Premier Kathleen Wynne and the Honourable Luo Zhijin, Party Secretary of Jiangsu, celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Ontario-Jiangsu Friendship Accord by re-signing the agreement at an evening reception at the Royal Ontario Museum yesterday.

As part of the celebration, Ontario and Jiangsu also signed nine MOUs and agreements that will provide more research and commercial partnership opportunities between businesses and institutions in both provinces.

Ontario and Jiangsu were first "twinned" in 1985. Collaboration under the friendship accord has helped both regions attract new investments, promote science and technology collaboration, encourage tourism, and provide businesses with more opportunities to compete internationally.

Premier Wynne will continue to strengthen Ontario's relationship with Jiangsu during her second mission to China, from November 4 to 15. The Premier will lead a 60-member delegation from Ontario's science and technology and clean tech sectors in order to build research and commercialization, trade and investment opportunities in Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing and Hong Kong.

Strengthening trade partnerships that attract new investments and helping the province's businesses compete globally is part of the government's plan for Ontario. The four-part plan is building Ontario up by investing in people's talents and skills, making the largest investment in public infrastructure in the province's history, creating a dynamic, innovative environment where business thrives, and building a secure retirement savings plan.