BEIJING - The Toronto Stock Exchange opened a representative office in Beijing on Monday, showing expectations for closer Sino-Canadian economic ties.

The Beijing office will offer information relevant to the Canadian market and regulations to organizations and potential Chinese companies looking to be listed on the Canadian stock market, said George Gao, chief representative of the Beijing office.

The Toronto Stock Exchange now is the seventh largest stock exchange in the world in terms of the market capitalization of listed companies.

Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty attended the opening event and said it "demonstrates the opportunities that Canadian businesses see to further their relationship with China."

The visiting official also pledged to strengthen trade and economic ties between the two countries.

"Canada places a very high priority on working closely with China to strengthen the trading relationship of our two countries," said Flaherty.

In regards to the global economic situation, Flaherty said that China played a very important role in discussions among finance ministers and central bank governors during the G20 summit.

"Our government is committed to continued growth in its relationship with China," said Flaherty, noting that both China and Canada "emerged from the global financial crisis in a position of strength."

According to the Department of Finance of Canada, China is Canada's second largest merchandise trading partner and third largest export market. There has also been considerable progress in portfolio investment, notably under China's Qualified Domestic Institutional Investor program.