Mayor Frank Kinsella, of Township of Leeds and 1000 Islands, is looking forward to the creation of a bridge of friendship between two tourist destinations in two countries. It goes by the name of 1,000 islands, one in the East (China) and one in the West (Canada). The formal signing of such a friendship agreement will take place at 1:30pm out in the St. Lawrence River.
Gangxin Shan, director of the Toronto based China National Tourist Office (CNTO), said the signing of the Agreement of Friendship and Cooperation is like a handshake across the Pacific Ocean between Gananoque and Qiandao Lake (meaning “lake of a 1,000 islands in Mandarin Chinese) in Zhejiang, a south-east province. Shan believes that “they will set up a bridge of friendship between Canada and China, and the tourism industry of both countries is going to enter into a new era.”
Back in 2008, the CNTO has a vision of developing a Canada-China Friendship Tourism, specifically with the two 1,000 islands in mind. Mayor Frank Kinsella was then invited to a tourism forum in China where he met the head of China’s 1000 islands in Chun’an County, Zhejiang Province.
The partnership will provide a boost in tourism for both destinations, said Shan, and they are getting support from a Burnaby, B.C. tourist operator who is eager to promote both 1,000 islands. “It’s good for the people of both towns and of the industry,” said James Wang of Canada Swan International Travel. “It is a very beautiful area in Chun’an County. I like ours too. It is very beautiful.” Wang also likes the idea of travelers seeing two thousand islands in one trip. “That’s a great idea.”
Qiandao Lake is a first-class national scenic spots and is the largest national forest park in China. The lake covers 570 square kilometers and is surrounded by green hills with a variety of plants and animals. It is also famous for its water. The average depth of the water is more than 100ft and the visibility in the water is 22- to 29ft. The water is so pure that it can be drunk directly.
OFFICIAL VISIT TO CANADA
On September 12th, Chairman HE Guangwei and Mr. LING Zhifeng, the chief Executive of Chun’an County will lead a Chinese delegation to visit the Canadian 1000 Islands and sign the Agreement of Friendship and Cooperation between Thousand-Islands Lake of China and Thousand-Islands of Canada.
“ONLY FOREIGNER BECOMING CHINA HONORARY CITIZEN”
The two thousand Islands are going to be “Canada-China Friendship Tourist Attractions”. Mayor Frank Kinsella, the only “foreigner” will be conferred the “Honorary Citizen” of the 1000 Islands in China, along with Chairman He, and Mr. Ling, with presentation of a Special Award for their contribution to Canada-Sino Tourism Cooperation & Exchange. “Mayor Frank has earned the title.” said AsiaNetwork Publisher Elizabeth Yeh, “I have never seen a mayor who works so hard like Frank in bringing in the friendship agreement to its fruition, taking care of every detail including the menu for the “Welcome Dinner”.
