Canadian PM meets Alibaba's Jack Ma for SME growth

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper met Jack Ma of Alibaba in Hangzhou Friday, voicing hopes the Internet could help Canada's small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) tap Chinese market.[Special coverage]

Harper, who is on his third visit to China since taking office in 2006, said the growing Chinese middle class provides an enormous market for Canadian food and manufacturing products.

He hoped the Internet would bring more business opportunities for Canadian SMEs and boost the country's employment.

Jack Ma, chairman of Alibaba Group, said his company has sold American cherries, Canadian lobsters and French wines to Chinese consumers on its online shopping platforms.

He said Alibaba is willing to help more Canadian enterprises sell products to China.

Alibaba is the largest e-commerce company in the world in market value after it was listed in the New York Stock Exchange in September.

Before meeting with Ma, Harper attended a China-Canada business conference in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, to promote trade and investment.

Harper continued his China visit in Beijing Friday evening, and he will attend events related to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting.