VANCOUVER - Canada's International Trade Minister Ed Fast on Monday stressed the importance of greater air transportation ties with China for the countries' common goal of C$60 billion?in merchandise trade by 2015.

Fast said the strengthening of trade relations with Asia, especially China, is a key priority for the Canadian government.

He made the remarks at a celebration of China Southern Airlines' new direct cargo service to the city.

Fast, also serving as Canada's Minister of Asia-Pacific Gateway, is scheduled to make his first trip to China in September or November.

He told Xinhua that he was looking forward to meeting with his counterpart in China "to really explore our current relationship and to identify new opportunities to expand upon the base that we already have."

Last year, China-Canada merchandise trade reached C$57 billion, making China the country's second largest trading partner after the United States.

"C$60 worth of trade is significant, but it is only scratching the surface of the potential that is there. China offers a huge market to Canadians, and we as Canadians offer some expertise, natural resources, an educated workforce. We offer educational opportunities to the Chinese government, there are many opportunities both partners can offer to each other so I' m going to continue to build on that," Fast said.

"Trade between our respective countries -- bilateral merchandise trade -- has tripled over the last 10 years. Growing our trade and investment ties with China is a key priority of ours because we know that doing so will benefit Canadian businesses, workers and their families," he added.

With various federal-level and British Columbia provincial-level partners on hand, China Southern Airlines has championed air cargo traffic as an important method of expanding the trade.

On June 15, the Guangdong-based carrier launched its inaugural passenger flight service into Vancouver, followed by an air cargo service one month later. The four-times-a-week flights, part of a loop covering Shanghai-Los Angeles-Vancouver-Shanghai, are the only dedicated China-Canada cargo service between the two countries.

Luo Laijun, China Southern Airlines' senior vice president of cargo, called the new service "an important air bridge" to further develop the fast-growing trade between the two countries.

"Since the launch of the flights, the progress is rapid and very good. It's on the right track," Luo said, adding that cargo demands and market capacity between Shanghai and Vancouver are developing fast.

Luo said the wide-bodied Boeing 777F cargo planes leave Shanghai with mainly electronic goods at 70 percent of its total capacity. In the return flight from Vancouver, the cargo of seafood product accounts for about 30 percent of the capacity, leaving much room for growth.

The China Southern cargo service is being viewed as an important step toward meeting the Asia-Pacific Gateway goal of 441,000 tons of air cargo. Last year, the two countries' air cargo reached 228,000 tons.