University of Waterloo to partner with 2 Chinese institutes to research autonomous vehicle technology

The University of Waterloo located will become partners with two leading institutes in China to pursue research in connected and autonomous vehicle technology.

The university will partner with the Qinqdao Academy of Intelligent Industries (QAI) and the State Key Laboratory for Management and Control of Complex Systems (SKL-MCCS). An agreement was recently signed by all three parties.

The nature of the research

The Waterloo center's research activities will involve automated vehicle testing, human-like autonomous driving, applied artificial intelligence and deep learning in automated driving.

A number of initiatives are included in the agreement, including a shared research center for automated driving, faculty and graduate student exchanges, plus a Waterloo PhD program that will focus on autonomous vehicles, and the potential for Chinese startup companies to establish research and development facilities in the Waterloo region.

University of Waterloo taking a global view of research in the area

Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor of the university said: “Waterloo is committed to taking a global view on research and development and this partnership represents a significant step in our goal of advancing the world’s understanding and use of new technologies. Our dedication to innovation and these types of partnerships will help us to continue to shape the future of Canada and the world’s technologies and economy.”

Yanchen Gao, senior vice-president of QAII for Intelligent Technology Research and Development and Incubation also stressed the international aspect of the research saying: "The Waterloo collaboration is another significant step to strengthen QAII's international profile, and we are committed to make it a great success. Parallel driving for intelligent vehicles is one of our hallmark technologies and we hope our joint venture with Waterloo brings networked autonomous driving to reality."

Funding of the research

The Chinese partners are committed to contributing up to one million dollars Canadian each year for five years. The university will provide $4 million to build a new autonomous lab in 2018. It is seeking matching funds from the government to support its initiative. Funding from other external sources will be pursued by all partners. The partners expect that many university-industry partnerships will be created using this joint research platform.

President of China's QAII and director of SKL-MCCS praises partnership

Fei-Yue Wang claimed:"I have been in close academic collaboration with Waterloo Engineering for 30 years in control, robotics, and intelligent systems and I am glad to witness this exciting opportunity to bring our cooperation to a new and much more grand level. Waterloo has been a world leader in engineering and computer science education and research and the Waterloo mechatronic vehicle research program has provided a solid foundation for the success of our collaboration.I am confident our joint effort will make Waterloo, QAII, and SKL-MCCS the leader and best in research and development of artificial intelligence and intelligent technology for autonomous driving. I also hope our joint effort will lead to the world's first PhD program specializing in intelligent vehicles and make Waterloo the hub of innovation and incubation in intelligent vehicles and technology."

The University of Waterloo

The University of Waterloo is a public research university. Its main campus of about 1,000 acres is located in Waterloo next to Waterloo Park. The university has six faculties and ten schools faculty-based. In 2016 the university had 30.600 undergraduate and 5,300 graduate students.

The university is a member of the U15 a group of research-intensive Canadian universities. It is famous for its cooperative education programs that allows students to integrate their education with relevant work experiences. It claims that its program is the largest post-secondary coop education program in the world with more than 17,000 undergraduate students in more than 140 coop programs.

In 2001 the university announced the development of the Waterloo Research and Technology Park in the north campus. The park was designed to house many high-tech industries in the area. It has the support of the university, Waterloo Regional Municipality, the provincial and the federal government. The aim is to provide businesses with access to the university faculty and co-op education students, and the university's infrastructure and resources. The project was started on June 2002.

The university has also worked in partnership with the Higher Colleges of Technology in Dubai. It even had a Dubai campus that opened in 2009 and provided degrees in chemical engineering, civil engineering, financial analysis, risk management, and information technology management. However in October 2012 the university's board of governors decided to close the Dubai extension.

Waterloo's research in the field of engineering has been ranked 43rd in the field in the 2011 URAP rankings and second in Canada. The engineering program has been rated as among the best in the world. It is often ranked second or even first in Canada although it has a much lower ranking on the world scale.

Published previously in Digital Journal

Rare earth deposits occur in Canada and many other places besides China

Rare earth mineral deposits are actually widely dispersed throughout the globe. There are deposits in Canada and several companies are active including Great Western Minerals of Saskatoon and Matamec Explorations of Montreal. Great Western has some of the highest grade ores and a mill operating in the UK. For other Canadian companies see the full article.

The reason that China provides over 95 per cent of the minerals has to do with the fact that China committed to production and was able to produce and sell the minerals very cheaply. It made little sense to other potential producers to try to compete. Most of those that tried lost money. Users were quite happy since prices were low.

But with Chinese restriction of exports two companies that are close to full production are set to compete and prices could trend downward again. One company U.S.-based in Colorado, Molycorp Inc is set to restart a California mine. In Australia Lyna Corp hopes to have full production in a Malaysian mine by the end of this year.

Already prices of some of the metals have fallen far from their peaks. Lanthanum and cerium went from a few dollars for a kilogram in 2010 to more than 150 a kilogram in 2011. However at present the price is only about a third of that at 50 dollars a kilogram. In a few years it is expected to be about 4 dollars a kilogram as new mines come on line. For much more see the full Globe and Mail article.

Canada signs multiple trade deals with China

  Given the large number of high profile business representatives who accompanied Stephen Harper on his visit to China the results are not surprising. This was meant to be a business trip. China needs our resources and Canadian companies are eager to expand markets especially into the rapidly growing Asian economies such as China.
      A CBC article here list ten of what it calls a blizzard of deals. However a main framework agreement is the FIPA (Foreign investment production and protection agreement). The agreement is simply a statement of intent and would need to be ratified by both governments. The agreement when completed will protect Canadian investments in China and Chinese investments in Canada. The agreement will give investors in either country confidence that their investments will be safe in the other country. Such agreements are common. Canada has such agreements with 24 other countries already.
    As well as this overarching agreement there were many agreements in specific areas. I will just mention a few. In agriculture there are agreements to restore Canada as an exporter of beef to China. Also, industrial beef tallow (fat) will now be allowed in. Until now Canada was excluded. China imports about 400 million in tallow each year. China has agreed to purchase more Canadian canola.
    There is agreement as well for collaboration between the two countries on sustainable research. Another welcome move is to collaborate on research to develop and protect National Parks with China's state forestry administration. For much more detail see the entire article. Of course China is very much interested in investing in Canadian resource industries such as the oil sector.
   

Harper in China for Big Business

   Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is visiting China. He is not alone. Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver is with him and also the Foreign Affairs Minister and Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. The delegation will be in China from Feb. 8 to 11.
   Politicians are not the only members of the delegation. Big Business is well represented especially in the oil and gas area where there representatives from eight different companies. But other sectors are also represented with Air Canada, Bombardier, Manulife, and Scotiabank representatives in the group as well.
    Not long ago Chinese investment in Canada could be measured in the millions. Now it is about 20 billion. Harper is wisely enough trying to diversity his market for Canadian oil and gas. Now most exports are to the U.S. The Chinese for their part are eager to find sources of energy supplies for their fast growing economy.
     The NDP, the official opposition party, is not opposed to trade but thinks that Harper should  bring up the human rights situation in China. No doubt Harper will do so and he is expected to bring up Syria as an issue as well. Harper is staunchly anti-communist. His big business supporters are interested in profits not ideology or even human rights except in terms of public relations for the most part. The reality will be not only business as usual but a growing trade between China and Canada. For more see this article. China may loan us a couple of Panda bears.



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Harper to visit India and China for the first time.

These visits and increased trade ties with both countries make a great deal of sense. Canada is overly dependent with trade with the US. Given our geographical location and our vast natural resources it is natural that the US is our largest trading partner but it makes a great deal of sense to have a more diversified trading pattern and sell our resources where we can get the best return. With growing economies both India and China will be willing to pay a good price for raw materials necessary to fuel their growing economies.

Harper to visit India, China for 1st time
CBC News
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has announced plans to visit two of the world's emerging economic superpowers — China and India — for the first time this fall.

Harper will travel to India — where Canada recently opened new trade offices in Hyderabad, Calcutta and Ahmedabad — from Nov. 16 to 18 after meeting APEC leaders in Singapore, his office said in a statement released Wednesday in Ottawa.

International Trade Minister Stockwell Day says Canada hopes to double bilateral trade with India — which currently stands at about $4.5 billion — by 2014.

“We share a history of cooperation in the Commonwealth and the United Nations, as well as a shared commitment to pluralism, democracy, human rights and the rule of law," Harper said in a statement.

"Our goal is to build a stronger, more dynamic partnership based on shared commercial, political and regional interests.”

The PMO also confirmed long-expected plans to visit China from Dec. 2 to 6.

"Our two countries enjoy a growing partnership, sharing significant interests in trade and investment, the environment and regional security," Harper said in a statement.

"Canada is committed to a strong relationship with China that reflects our mutual respect and the need for practical co-operation."

The importance of both countries to strengthening Canada's global trade ties is evidenced by the fact that there have been 11 ministerial-level visits to India and 18 to China since Harper's minority government was first elected in 2006.

However, relations with China have also been strained during Harper's tenure.

After Parliament unanimously adopted a motion giving honorary Canadian citizenship to the Dalai Lama in 2006, China threatened to use its considerable economic strength to penalize Canada.

.....
In 2007, Harper warned China not to threaten Canada with economic repercussions for bringing up the Asian country's human rights record and standing up for the rights of Canadians abroad.

Harper was referring to the case of Huseyin Celil, a Canadian activist jailed in China for alleged terrorist links.

China is Canada's third-largest export destination, after the United States and the United Kingdom.

Communist CBC websites blocked in Communist China.

I notice that some bloggers insist that the CBC is communist so for them at least the headline is correct! I wonder how those who think that CBC is communist explain the blockage. Maybe it is because China has become capitalist and doesn't want propaganda from the commmuist CBC.
When I first started blogging I used to get quite a few visitors from China at kenthink7 but all of a sudden there were none and have been none until the other day. However, that hit looked to be some sort of offical organisation. Of course the situation is different with Taiwan. I understand that many Chinese have learned how to get around blockages so perhaps some unknown hits are from China.


This is from the CBC.



CBC complains to Chinese ambassador after broadcaster's websites blocked
Last Updated: Friday, April 4, 2008 | 10:12 PM ET
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has formally complained to China's ambassador to Canada about the continued blocking of the broadcaster's websites in China.

CBC president Hubert T. Lacroix outlined his concerns in a letter to Ambassador Lu Shumin on Friday.

Access in China to CBC's French-language website Radio-Canada.ca has been blocked for six months, while access to the English site CBC.ca has been cut off since January, Lacroix said.

"I am writing to request that you make formal and immediate enquiries as to why the sites have been blocked, and that you take steps to ensure that this policy is reversed," Lacroix said in the letter.

CBC News was informed that there will be no response from Chinese authorities on Friday because they are observing a holiday.

He quoted Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who last year said China's government would "provide services of an Olympic standard to athletes, officials, spectators and the media in order to facilitate their participation and enjoyment of the Games."

CBC is the official Canadian broadcaster of the 2008 Summer Games, which begin in Beijing in early August.

Canada and China's relationship depends on the ability to communicate, Lacroix said.

"Blocking access to our websites is inconsistent with that history and with China's growing place on the world stage," he wrote.

"I would appreciate your personal commitment to resolving this problem as quickly as possible and ensuring that access to our programming is restored expeditiously."

CBC News publisher John Cruickshank said restricting the broadcaster's websites is a violation of basic principles of free media and free press.

"It restricts the rights of all Canadians living in China, it restricts the rights of Chinese to get Canadian news and culture," said Cruickshank.

Blogs buzzing about move
CBC.ca is one of the most-viewed news websites in Canada.

Blogs have been buzzing about the CBC blockage for weeks.

"I'm not exactly sure why the site is blocked, but I'm annoyed about it. I first experienced this on Feb. 1, but thought it was a one-day thing," wrote John Guise on a blog called Zhongnanhai.

Ralph McGreevy, a Canadian teaching in China, said he can get most other news websites.

"Unfortunately, I still cannot get the CBC website, which is completely blocked. Most other news websites are reachable, although sensitive articles may not be," he wrote on a New York Times blog.

China has regularly blocked Western websites within its borders, and just recently lifted a ban on access to the British Broadcasting Corporation.

Human rights groups have criticized China for its strict censorship policies, but the government says filtering subjects it considers pornographic or subversive protects its citizens from harmful content on the internet.

With files from the Associated Press

China gets first toehold in Canadian Uranium

China is seeking minerals and oil globally to feed its expanding economy. Canada could profit considerably and diversify our economy which is to a very great extent tied in to the US. NAFTA skews our economy even more towards becoming a handmaiden of the US economy supplying the U.S. with scarce raw materials and our energy resources that we could better develop ourselves or sell at higher prices to other countries.


China gets first toehold in Canadian uranium
Thu Jan 10, 2008 1:46am EST
HONG KONG, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Chinese steelmaker Sinosteel Corp has signed a memorandum of understanding with small Canadian explorer Ditem Explorations (DIT.V: Quote, Profile, Research) that could lead to it taking an equity stake in the firm.
Ditem said it had signed the deal with Sinosteel last month, providing the groundwork for exploration of its uranium properties and new properties in the Athabasca basin.
A source with knowledge of the deal said Sinosteel planned to take just under 10 percent of Ditem, which has a market capitalisation of about $32 million, although the share price for the investment had not yet been finalised.
China's appetite for energy and metals has driven an acquisition drive abroad by its domestic firms, while its economic growth has supercharged commodities prices over the past few years.
Uranium acquistions are high on China's wishlist, and prices UX-U308-SPT have also gained from global demand, mine disruptions and falling inventories. The price hit a record high of $136 per pound last year and has since fallen back to $90, still more than 12 times its price of around $7 in 2000.
The deal with Ditem comes almost a year after Sinosteel secured China's first foothold in Australia's uranium market by sealing a joint venture deal with PepinNini Minerals Ltd (PNN.AX: Quote, Profile, Research).
(Reporting by Tom Miles, editing by Ken Wills)
© Reuters 2007. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
Reuters journalists are subject to the Reuters Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.

China National Petroleum abandons Canadian Energy Strategy

Usually Canada welcomes investment and in this case it would provide diversification and access to Chinese markets. It doesn't seem to matter. Perhaps the US is encouraging Canada to discourage China. It would be best for Canada to diversity its sales and not simply become a US client.

China National Petroleum abandons Canadian energy strategy
Jon Harding, Financial Post
Published: Thursday, July 12, 2007
CALGARY -- China has abandoned its Canadian energy strategy out of frustration with federal policy and with the country's oilsands producers, turning its attention instead to "friendly Venezuela" as a way to feed new Chinese refineries.

A senior executive with state-owned China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC), Asia's largest company, said CNPC has scrapped its involvement in a $4-billion Gateway pipeline project with Enbridge Inc. that was to move oilsands crude from Alberta to the British Columbia coast by about 2014.

Yiwu Song, vice-president CNPC International, also said China decided in January to "slow down" its involvement in the Canadian oilsands business.

We're waiting for better investment policies and political-friendly opportunities coming in the future," Mr. Song said outside a TD Newcrest oilsands forum in Calgary.

He said during the next five years, China's imports of heavy oil from Venezuela will grow to 600,000 barrels a day, volumes that will be used to feed two new upgraders, refining-like facilities that process heavy grades of oil such as those found in Venezuela and in Canada's oilsands, into refinery-ready feedstock.

CNPC had hoped Canada would some day account for half those volumes, although Mr. Song voiced frustration at the same investor event a year ago about his company's lack of success in executing any significant deals.

The integrated oil company wanted to exchange access to its refining capacity and Chinese markets for reserves and upstream production.

Canada's loss -- its chance to develop new oil markets outside of the United States -- is Venezuela's gain, Mr. Song said yesterday.

"Fortunately, Venezuelan President [Hugo] Chavez is so warm-hearted -- there's a difference in attitude," he said of the political strongman in Venezuela, a country from which oil companies are now fleeing.

"Yes, there are some ideological issues here, and if your people don't change your minds and be more inviting to us ...

"China will always open its door for Canada."

He said China tipped its hand about a growing wariness of Canada in January, surprisingly via CNPC's purchase of 258.6 square kilometres of oilsands acreage, land CNPC said could hold two-billion barrels of resource.

"The media here said it was the Chinese coming. But actually, that was the turning point of our policy," he said, adding those lands would not produce oil for at least 10 years .

He blamed the Stephen Harper government for not doing more to facilitate Chinese-Canada trade in energy and also said the Liberal government of Paul Martin was more inviting to the Chinese.

Canada's Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn, a speaker at the same oilsands forum, said Ottawa is doing its bit to encourage trade between in energy between the two countries.

Mr. Song was also critical of how long it takes getting approvals for major projects in Canada, suggesting that is why CNPC has decided it will not pursue the Gateway pipeline project with Enbridge, which at one point said it wanted equity partners to share up to 50% of the project.

PetroChina -- a CNPC subsidiary -- was going to be the primary customer for oil shipped on the line and Enbridge was going to facilitate supply deals between it and Canadian producers.

Canadian producers have so far done deals in the United States and last year Enbridge deferred building the project so it could focus on ways to move growing output from the oilsands south.

Enbridge spokesman Glenn Herchak said the Calgary-based pipeline company had not heard before yesterday that CNPC was no longer interested in pursing Gateway.

"The memorandum of understanding we signed with PetroChina did lay the groundwork for further discussions to move the project forward, but we've always said the details were confidential," Mr. Herchak said.

"While China could be a market for Gateway volumes, other Asia Pacific markets and California are other potential markets. We're in discussions with other, including Canadian oilsands producers and refiners in California and offshore."

Keep out those Chinese communist commerce ministers!

This is an old post from Global Politician Global Politician seems to copy all of the stuff from Canadian Coalition for Democracies. Harris represents this group at the Iacobucci inquiry. I posted his very complimentary article about Iacobucci's ruling that the inquiry should be held in secret. Harris shows little concern for the rights of the three Muslim's involved to clear their name. He shows little concern for Guantanamo as far as I can discern. He is rabidly pro-Israel and anti- Syria, Iran, and China too it seems. As trade between China and Canada increases even Harper is not likely to heed Harris' advice. Harris used to work as a strategist for CSIS! Harris supports a US attack against Iran and has an article outlining the reasons why Iran should be attacked and Canada should support the attack. Harris does not give any sources for his accusations against Bo Xilai.


Visit To Canada By China's Commerce Minister Bo Xilai
David Harris - 5/28/2007
Ottawa, Canada - The Canadian Coalition for Democracies (CCD) is concerned about the entry into Canada of China's Commerce Minister, Bo Xilai on Monday May 28th, 2007. There are serious allegations about Bo Xilai regarding torture and crimes against humanity. These concerns have been brought to the attention of Canadian government officials, the RCMP and the Department of Justice's Interdepartmental Operations Group of Canada’s Crimes Against Humanity & War Crimes Program.

As a global leader and supporter of international law, including laws dealing with crimes against humanity and torture, Canada has an important role to play in ensuring that those credibly accused of such crimes be brought before the appropriate legal bodies to face justice.

CCD notes that Prime Minister Harper has acted with conviction and compassion when it comes to respecting human rights.

We trust that the Prime Minister will maintain his record by keeping Bo Xilai out of Canada, and by supporting the efforts of victims and their family members, together with those of reputable human rights organizations, to see that justice is done.

David Harris is the Senior Fellow for National Security at the Canadian Coalition for Democracies.