During an economic trade visit to China, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne announced business and trade agreements exceeding $1 billion between Ontario and Chinese organizations.

"Much like Ontario, Nanjing is a leader in innovative technology. The partnerships we’ve created today reinforce our shared commitment to collaboration, ensuring our businesses can continue to innovate and grow in a rapidly changing global economy,” Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario said.

"Today’s signings in Jiangsu build on the success of previous missions and are a testament to the strength of our economic and cultural partnership over the past 30 years. Through Ontario’s Global Trade Strategy, the province continues to create the right conditions for businesses to succeed at home while helping them start or scale up their export capacity,” said Michael Chan, Minister of International Trade.

At a signing ceremony in Nanjing today, Ontario and Chinese organizations announced agreements, which are expected to create more than 700 jobs in Ontario, including:

Xinyi Glass Holdings selected Ontario, Canada, as the location to invest $450 million in its first North American manufacturing facility, a large float glass plant. Premier Kathleen Wynne outlined in an agreement in principle signed yesterday between Xinyi and the province that would create 400 jobs in Ontario.

In addition, Ontario's Ownace International Group signed a $10 million agreement with Shanghai Golden Wing Industrial to open up China's East Territory as a market for their Ontario-grown premium food ingredients.

McMaster University entered into a $5 million agreement with Dajiang Environmental Corporation to collaborate in the research, development and commercialization of smart water technology and related sensor technologies. Dajiang will also set up a subsidiary at McMaster Innovation Park focused on research and technology development.

Ontario also signed five new agreements with the province of Jiangsu to fuel innovation, collaboration and economic growth in both regions.

Premier Wynne also met with representatives from Toronto-based Geneseeq, a leading health solutions company that specializes in personalized cancer care. The Premier toured their Chinese headquarters, which opened in 2013, and discussed their plan to expand their Ontario headquarters at MaRS to include a business centre with clinical testing facilities. The $15 million investment will create an estimated 50 high-value jobs in Ontario.

Premier Wynne then met with Lou Qinjian, Party Secretary of Jiangsu, and Wu Zhenglong, Governor of Jiangsu, to discuss Ontario and Jiangsu's successful sister relationship and promote Ontario as an ideal trading partner and collaborator in R&D, technology and education.

According to Ontario provincial officials, opening doors for international investment to grow the economy is part of Ontario's plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change. The plan includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.