Net Result: Three Times The Flights By 2008

When China's president visits Ottawa at the end of the week, he'll do so with pen in hand, ready to sign a series of aviation agreements that will triple flights between the two countries by 2008.

That's the word from Canadian Transport Minister Jean Lapierre, who told The AFX News Service, "This agreement is going to multiply by three the number of flights between Canada and China over the next few years."

Lapierre didn't talk about actual numbers, but said he expects the number of ethnic Chinese in Vancouver and Toronto, which escalated remarkably just before Britain handed Hong Kong over to the Chinese in 1997, will make increased flights (both cargo and passenger) profitable for both countries.

In addition, Canada wants "approved destination status" from China.

"That would also -- in our estimation -- increase the number of Chinese people coming to Canada from 87,000 this year to something like 250,000 over the next few years," he said.

The aviation agreements, which could well be approved at the presidential level by the end of the week, would see Bombardier bring in Chinese partners on its C-series aircraft. Again, Lapierre was tight-lipped on the details, hinting more information would be forthcoming by the end of the week.

FMI: www.tc.gc.ca/en/menu.htm