OTTAWA, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay will head to China for a week-long mission to explore opportunities for exporting Canadian products and strengthen the trading relationship between the countries, the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) said on Friday.

In a press release, the AAFC said: "With a population of 1.4 billion people, and a growing appetite for high-quality Canadian food products, the Chinese market offers significant opportunities for Canadian agricultural producers and processors."

"I look forward to taking part in agri-business events in China to promote Canada's top quality agricultural and food products, and to meeting with my Chinese counterpart to build on our shared history of collaboration and strengthen our mutually beneficial trade relationship," said the minister.

The two countries have agreed to increase collaboration on agriculture, including expanding market access, which is vital to achieving the Government of Canada's trade target of growing global agriculture and food exports to 75 billion Canadian dollars (some 59 billion U.S. dollars) by 2025.

MacAulay will take part in a number of events from May 14 to 18, including meetings with leading Chinese companies such as e-commerce giant Alibaba, HeMa, and GFresh to discuss in-market opportunities for Canadian food products.

He will also participate in roundtable discussions with representatives of Canadian and Chinese companies to discuss market opportunities in China. In addition, he will attend SIAL China, where he will have the opportunity to interact with the Canadian exhibitors.

The minister will also meet with the Chinese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Han Changfu to discuss continued co-operation between the two sides and advocate for expanded market access for Canada's safe, high-quality products including pork, beef and canola.