The Shanghai World Expo has helped reinforce contact at all levels between Canada and China, said the Department of Canadian Heritage, a government unit responsible for coordinating the country's participation in the Expo.

Participating in the Expo allows Canada to advance its foreign and trade policy goals, strengthen economic, diplomatic and cultural ties with China and promote the Canada brand, a spokesperson for Canadian Heritage said in a written interview with Xinhua.

Canada hopes to leave a lasting impression of itself as "a democratic, culturally diverse, technologically advanced, environmentally aware, bilingual, multicultural country" which can boast 5 million Chinese visitors to the Canada Pavilion and tens of millions more elsewhere in China who will hear about Canada because of the Expo, Canadian Heritage said.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper was one of the first world leaders to accept China's invitation to participate in the Expo. Governor General Michaelle Jean and several government ministers and city mayors also visited China and the Canada Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo site.

Agreements were signed, and forums, events and activities were held to promote business, trade and investment between the two countries.

"Expo 2010 opens the door for Canadian companies to develop business in China and pursue trade and economic opportunities. It allows Canada to show our Chinese and international guests that Canada is a destination of choice and an excellent place to conduct business, to study, and to visit."

The Shanghai Expo, with its theme of "Better City, Better Life," is an opportunity for rapidly developing Chinese cities to learn from the experiences of cities from around the world, including Canadian cities, in addressing contemporary urban challenges, Canadian Heritage said.

"Recognized by the United Nations as offering an exceptional quality of life, Canada's cities provide innovative and sustainable urban development models and practices to share with the world," the spokesperson said.

The Bureau of International Expositions (BIE), the organizer of the World Expos, presented the Canada Pavilion with an award for the best business program for an international participant, the spokesperson said.

"We believe that our theme 'The Living City: inclusive, sustainable, creative' has resonance with many of our guests," the spokesperson added.

"The influence of Chinese culture in Canada is profound. Canada and China remain strong commercial partners, and we look forward to further deepening this relationship," the spokesperson said.