Agreements build on partnership with Hainan Province

Longtime sister provinces Prince Edward Island and Hainan in China are paving the way for future cooperation that will benefit the residents of both provinces.

Prince Edward Island – as well as the University of Prince Edward Island and Holland College – signed memoranda of understanding (MOU) in Hainan Province during the ongoing China trade mission that ends Friday, March 31. The two provinces agreed to identify tangible projects that will build on their 15-year relationship; also, the higher-education institutions have committed to partner with their Hainan counterparts on education, research, and cultural exchange.

“Prince Edward Island and Hainan Province have a long history of working together – especially in education – and these agreements will directly benefit Islanders,” Premier Wade MacLauchlan said. “We look forward to further strengthening these connections with Hainan as we collaborate to bring increased prosperity to the residents of our two provinces.”

The MOUs signed today in Hainan Province are:

• the governments of Prince Edward Island and Hainan Province will move their existing partnership in education, libraries, tourism, and trade into more tangible initiatives that will be mutually beneficial for both provinces;

• UPEI will partner with the Hainan University’s Centre of Island Studies of the State Oceanic Administration to establish a research network on island economies; and

• Holland College will collaborate with Hainan College of Vocation and Technique and Hainan Technician College to develop mutually beneficial programs for their students, faculty, departments, and research institutes.

A total of 21 Island businesses and education institutions are accompanying the premier on the mission. The companies are taking part in business-to-business meetings as well as briefings and programs aimed at helping them connect with potential Chinese customers and suppliers.

In addition, the premier today launches a shared Reading Week in Hainan Province that will be an annual partnership between Hainan’s provincial libraries and the Prince Edward Island Public Library Service. Both provinces’ libraries will feature children’s story times, book displays in both languages, and special library programs for elementary students to learn about each other’s home and culture.

Prince Edward Island and Hainan Province have been sister provinces since 2001. They renewed their 15-year relationship last fall with an agreement pledging future cooperation in education, tourism, renewable energy, economic development, and trade between the provinces.

China has become Prince Edward Island’s No. 2 trading partner (behind only the U.S.) accounting for more than $50 million in total commerce for the province last year. The goal is to quadruple trade with China by 2025.

More news on the mission will be provided as it progresses; for updates, follow the Government of Prince Edward Island on Twitter at www.twitter.com/InfoPEI (#PEIChinaMission) and Facebook at www.facebook.com/govpe.

Media contact:
Mary Moszynski
Premier’s Office
902-368-4400
mamoszynski@gov.pe.ca