Minister Miller strengthens Canada’s creative economy through trade and cultural partnerships with China
The Government of Canada helps Canadian creative companies expand into the Chinese market, generating seven new commercial agreements and partnerships worth more than $4.2 million
GATINEAU, QC, Oct. 20, 2026 /CNW/ — Canadian artists and creators are known all over the world for their talent, innovative ideas, technical expertise and high-quality creative content. Our creative industries support hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country and drive economic growth. As we build a strong economy at home, diversifying our trade and expanding partnerships and cultural cooperation with China represent significant opportunities for Canada’s creative economy.
This past weekend, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, concluded a successful five-day creative industries trade mission to Shanghai, Shenzhen and Suzhou, China. The Canadian delegation included close to 50 representatives from 36 Canadian companies and organizations primarily from the interactive digital media industry, including video games, and performing arts sector.
The mission delivered immediate concrete outcomes for the Canadian delegation, which participated in more than 370 tailored business-to-business meetings and two formal networking activities, leading to the signing of seven commercial agreements worth more than $4.2 million, with additional deals still under active negotiation with Chinese partners.
While in China, Minister Miller had a robust bilateral program, which included a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Minister of Culture and Tourism Sun Yeli, on the margins of the opening of the Shanghai International Arts Festival. The ministers discussed how the trade mission is strengthening ties between Canada’s and China’s cultural institutions and creative industries, helping businesses build commercial partnerships, access new markets and create good jobs.
They also discussed enhanced opportunities and good progress to date in advancing cultural cooperation under the Canada-China Joint Committee on Culture.
Minister Miller also met with Lu Shan, Shanghai’s Vice Mayor responsible for commerce, culture and tourism, Dai Jintao, Shenzen’s Vice Mayor for Culture, Tourism and Sports, and Ji Jing, Vice Mayor of Suzhou, whose responsibilities include culture, tourism and broadcasting, to discuss cultural collaboration and commercial opportunities.
Through meetings with leading Chinese companies, cultural organizations and institutions, Minister Miller promoted Canadian strengths in film, animation, digital media, live entertainment, interactive experiences, design and the performing arts. These engagements strengthened Canada-China cultural and commercial ties, aligned Canadian expertise with China’s evolving needs, and fostered growing trade opportunities while deepening mutual understanding between the two countries.
The mission was delivered under Canada’s Creative Export Strategy, which has supported more than 3,250 creative businesses and non-profits in accessing 140 international markets. Recent missions to Mexico (2026), South Korea and Japan (2025) generated hundreds of business-to-business meetings and dozens of commercial agreements, signed or under advanced negotiation, valued at an estimated $9.7 million to $13.6 million.
Quotes
“Canadian creators, artists and creative entrepreneurs have world-class talent and expertise to offer. This mission has helped turn those strengths into new commercial opportunities and partnerships in an important international market. By helping Canadian talent compete and succeed on the world stage, we bring the benefits home by attracting investment and growing our economy.”
–The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages
Quick Facts
The creative industries are a key sector of Canada’s economy. In 2025, the creative industries accounted for approximately 692,019 jobs and contributed $69.1 billion to Canada’s gross domestic product.
As the world’s second-largest economy, China is a important export market for Canada’s creative industries, with creative exports valued at $734.1 million in 2023. This trade mission was designed to help experienced Canadian creative exporters increase their visibility and strengthen their presence in the Chinese market, while showcasing Canada as a reliable business partner of choice and producer of high-quality cultural content and services.
The Creative Export Strategy helps Canadian creative industries maximize their export potential and stand out in the global market. The Strategy’s key metrics of success include:
- Creative Export Canada funding recipients have generated approximately $475.1 million in export revenues as a result of their projects, a sixfold return on investment, and created 834 jobs.
- Trade missions have resulted in more than 220 commercial deals signed or under advanced negotiation with an estimated value of $167.7 million.
- Tailored business programming at international and domestic trade events has led to more than 489 commercial deals.
This mission builds on Minister Miller’s first visit to China in May 2026, when he and his Chinese counterpart reactivated the Canada-China Joint Committee on Culture to strengthen cultural exchanges and people-to-people ties as a priority area of cooperation under of the new Canada-China Strategic Partnership.
Prime Minister Carney’s first official visit to China in January 2026 was a turning point in the Canada-China relationship. Together, Prime Minister Carney and President Xi Jinping announced a new Strategic Partnership that included a commitment to strengthening exchanges and cooperation in areas including culture, the arts, heritage and the creative industries.
Associated Links
Canadian creative industries trade mission to China
International trade missions and events
SOURCE Canadian Heritage
