Vancouver mayor brings a big name on business hunting trip

Already the trip has seen some results, with Nerd Corp, a Vancouver-based digital entertainment company, establishing a partnership with China's Ciwen Media Group to distribute content and merchandise throughout China.

The deal capitalizes on a growing appetite from Western entertainment companies to tap into China's potential $7.7 billion box office figures.

With more than $1.02 billion spent on film production in Vancouver in 2010, the city is ranked the third-largest production center in North America - a fact that has earned the city the nickname Hollywood North.

Partnerships with Vancouver film studios could provide a chance for Chinese companies to bring their productions west, Robertson said.

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"In digital media in particular, we have attracted companies from all over the world to build studios in Vancouver because the talent is very high," he said.

"So I think we have a lot to offer in terms of partnerships with Chinese companies and also co-production with Chinese companies for the North American market."

The 160-person delegation began its trip in Beijing on Nov 4. It will travel to Shanghai and Guangzhou before finishing the tour in Hong Kong.

While in the capital, Robertson signed a memorandum of understanding with Chaoyang district of Beijing, which includes most of the city's commercial center.

During their Guangzhou leg, the delegates will celebrate the nearly 30-year-long Sister City relationship the southern city has shared with Vancouver.