Finance Montréal and Shanghai Financial Association sign Memorandum of Understanding

The agreement will promote training, internships and conferences for both cities' financial services industry

SHANGHAI, People's Republic of China, Oct. 22, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - As part of the ongoing mutual efforts to strengthen the business relations between Canada and China, Finance Montréal and the Shanghai Financial Association signed in Shanghai a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The agreement opens a new domain of collaboration between the sister cities of Shanghai and Montréal who have been linked as such since 1985. It expresses the willingness of Finance Montréal and the Shanghai Financial Association to increase cooperation between the two financial services industries and develop new activities to create mutually beneficial business opportunities. The signature took place during the mission of the Québec Government in China under the leadership of the Minister of International Relations, La Francophonie and External Trade of Québec, Mr. Jean-François Lisée.

The cooperation will focus on four main activities:

• Participation in seminars and conferences in Shanghai and Montréal covering specific topics of interest to the Chinese and Canadian financial sectors.
• Assistance between financial training institutions in Shanghai and Montréal to enhance the scope and the effectiveness of their respective training programs.
• Specialised courses in collaboration with training institutions in Shanghai and Montréal for representatives of financial firms in both cities combining group study sessions and visits to local firms.
• Specialised internships in Shanghai and Montréal for finance students in both cities in collaboration with local firms.

"We are very pleased to have concluded this agreement with the Shanghai Financial Association, a true strategic partner for the development of Montréal's financial industry. We look forward to exchange on our mutual financial expertise and best practices. We see this agreement as an important tool to increase business ties between our two cities and as a catalyst for all members of Finance Montréal and the Shanghai Financial Association to grow their relationships with one another" said Eric Lemieux, Chief Executive Officer of Finance Montréal.

"This agreement is a win - win partnership that is testimony to the strong relationship that China and Canada, and in particular Shanghai and Montréal, have had for almost 30 years. As our economies are evermore linked together and with the rest of the world, it is important that centres of excellence in financial services exchange with one another and learn from emerging trends in the industry. This collaboration between de Shanghai Financial Association and Finance Montréal will support our mutual growth objectives and help achieve international recognition for Montréal and Shanghai as world class international financial hubs" said Wang Zhe, Vice-President of the Shanghai Financial Association and President of the China Foreign Exchange Trade Center.

The activities forecasted for 2014 will be determined in the coming weeks and will be communicated to the members of both organizations.

About Finance Montréal

Finance Montréal, Québec's financial cluster, was created in November 2010 by major players of the financial services industry at the invitation of the Québec Government. Finance Montréal's mission is to continuously expand Montréal's reputation on the world financial markets, promoting the city as a strong and innovative industrial hub that contributes to Québec's economic development. The organization helps strengthen Québec's financial sector by generating growth in high value-added financial activities strategic to its development. A non-profit organization with 22 Governors, 12 Associate Members and close to 100 volunteer professionals, Finance Montréal fosters cooperation among a vast range of financial sector companies to watch over the industry's common interests while generating higher awareness of the financial specializations found in Montréal. To learn more about Finance Montréal, visit www.finance-montreal.com.

About Shanghai Financial Association

Shanghai Financial Association (SFA) is a nonprofit social organization with its cross-sectors, cross-industries and alliance mission. Initiated by financial trade associations, financial markets, large financial institutions and intermediary services organizations in Shanghai, SFA is registered at Shanghai Administration Bureau of NGOs and supervised by Shanghai Financial Service Office.

Image with caption: "Mr. Eric Lemieux, CEO, Finance Montréal, Mr. Jean-François Lisée, Minister of International Relations and External Trade of Québec, Mr. Tim Xu, Deputy Secretary General, Chamber of International Commerce Shanghai, World Trade Center Association Shanghai, Mr. Wang Zhe, Vice-President of the Shanghai Financial Association and President, China Foreign Exchange Trade Center (CNW Group/Finance Montréal)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131022_C6023_PHOTO_EN_32372.jpg

Image with caption: "Finance Montréal Logo (CNW Group/Finance Montréal)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131022_C6023_PHOTO_EN_32373.jpg

Image with caption: "Shanghai Financial Association Logo (CNW Group/Finance Montréal)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131022_C6023_PHOTO_EN_32374.jpg

SOURCE: Finance Montréal

Finance Montréal

Matthieu Cardinal
Director of Communications
Finance Montréal
[phone]  ext. 227
[email protected]
www.finance-montreal.com

Shanghai Financial Association

Alan Ge
[email protected]
Cell phone: [phone]