The Canadian government has been in talks with local government agencies in Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu (the capital of the western Sichuan province) and Shenyang (the capital of the northeastern Liaoning province) as part of an effort to forge closer bilateral investment relations with China, the Shanghai Financial News reported, Sergio Marchi, the president of the Canada China Business Council, said the council was endeavoring to convince more Canadian companies to invest in China’s finance, transport, and manufacturing fields. In turn, Chinese energy and raw material companies are being urged to do business in the North American country.

US aircraft maker Boeing signed up to US$500 million (RMB3.8 billion) worth of contracts with Chinese suppliers to make commercial aircraft components, including components for its Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental Passenger and Freighter, China Business News reported. The recipients are the China Aviation Industry Corporation I (CAIC-I)-affiliated Xi’an Aircraft Industry Group and Chengdu Aircraft Industrial Group and CAIC-II-affiliated Hafei Aviation Industry Co. Boeing began forming partnership with Chinese aircraft producers in the mid-1970s, and it currently has US$2.5 billion (RMB 19 billion) worth of Chinese supplier contracts.

In an interview that should be required reading for anyone looking to risk money beyond China’s seaboard, William Dodson, Managing Director of Silk Road Advisors, a China-focused strategic management consultancy, tells The China Perspective about changing foreign investment patterns and government incentives for investment in China’s 2nd- and 3rd-tier cities.

Bentley Motors expects mainland sales to double this year.  Last year, sales were up 100%, to 123 units.