APF Canada, Hong Kong Airlines Partner on Asia Connect Initiative to Send Canadian Students to Asia

VANCOUVER, BC – June 30, 2017 – The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) is pleased to announce a new partnership with Hong Kong Airlines, which launched its first North American service today with direct daily flights between Vancouver and Hong Kong.

Through the partnership, Hong Kong Airlines will provide 20 airline tickets over two years to support APF Canada’s Asia Connect program, which sends Canadian post-secondary students to Asia to study or participate in work internships.

“To capitalize on the remarkable growth in the Asia Pacific, young Canadians need to be Asia competent, they need the Asia-related skills and knowledge to help them better engage with this dynamic region,” said APF Canada President and CEO, Stewart Beck. “Hong Kong Airlines’ generous support of our Asia Connect program will help us help young Canadians connect with Asia, a region of the world that will play a vital role in Canada’s future.”

Hong Kong Airlines celebrated its 10th anniversary in November and has received a four-star rating from Skytrax, an independent airline review site, for six consecutive years. Its destination network covers more than 30 major cities across the Asia Pacific, including Gold Coast, Auckland, Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, Tokyo, Sapporo, Seoul, Bangkok, Bali, and Okinawa.

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About the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada:

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada is dedicated to strengthening ties between Canada and Asia with a focus on expanding economic relations through trade, investment and innovation; promoting Canada’s expertise in offering solutions to Asia’s climate change, energy, food security and natural resource management challenges; building Asia skills and competencies among Canadians, including young Canadians; and, improving Canadians’ general understanding of Asia and its growing global influence.

The Foundation is well known for its annual national opinion polls of Canadian attitudes regarding relations with Asia, including Asian foreign investment in Canada and Canada’s trade with Asia. The Foundation places an emphasis on China, India, Japan and South Korea while also developing expertise in emerging markets in the region, particularly economies within ASEAN.

Visit APF Canada online at www.asiapacific.ca

Media Contact:

Michael Roberts
Communications Manager
Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
michael.roberts@asiapacific.ca
Office: 604-630-1527