An official delegation of agricultural and food associations from Canada visited China last week and brought more Canadian products to Chinese tables.

Led by Andrea Lyon, deputy minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), the delegation visited Chongqing, Shanghai and Beijing last week, holding promotion events and signing deals with local Chinese partners.

The delegation included 61 representatives from 35 Canadian companies and industry associations, and five provincial governments.

During the promotion event that was held last Wednesday in Beijing, AAFC signed a cooperative framework agreement with China's major e-commerce platform JD.com. A new Canadian seafood page will be launched on JD.com.

Under this agreement, over the next year, the parties will seek to increase the number of Canadian agri-food and fish and seafood products available on JD.com's online stores, and to increase visibility of Canadian products through promotional events on JD.com's online platform.

AAFC is the government ministry in Canada that provides leadership in the growth and development of a competitive, innovative and sustainable Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector.

The Canadian Ambassador to China Guy Saint-Jacques, Keith Colwell, minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Agriculture for Nova Scotia, and Feng Yi, vice president of JD.com, attended the signing ceremony.

"I am very pleased we are taking this important new step in building new opportunities for Canada's seafood industry as well as the value chain here in China," said Lyon. "This exciting opportunity is an excellent example of how Canadian and Chinese businesses are working together to increase sales for our mutual agricultural and seafood industries."

She added: "But our relationship runs deeper than dollars. We collaborate on a whole range of levels -- regulatory, academic, technical, policy and agricultural development."

This year marks the 45th anniversary of Canada-China diplomatic relations.