Liu made the remarks during a meeting with Canadian Minister of International Trade Pierre Pettigrew, who is here accompanying Prime Minister Jean Chretien on an official visit.

Liu believed that the current visit by Canadian government officials and businesspeople would undoubtedly accelerate the bilateral cooperation in all fields.

The mayor briefed the guests on the infrastructure construction, environment protection, high-tech industry and financial industry of the city. In the coming five years, a total of 180 billion yuan will be pumped into the city's infrastructure construction and the Zhongguancun Science Village will be built into a first-class high-tech area, the mayor said.

For this purpose the Beijing municipal government will endeavor to create a better investment environment, Liu noted. He also invite Canadian enterprises to take part in bidding the construction of subway and sewage disposal projects, and the development of high-tech and service industries.

Pierre spoke highly of Beijing's economic achievements in recent years and said Canada encourages its enterprises to involve themselves in the development of the city.

(Xinhua 02/13/2001)