A tender issued last week suggests Nova Scotia’s mission to build a relationship with China is unlikely to come to a halt any time soon, despite two Canadian citizens being detained in the country for more than 400 days.

Nova Scotia has put out a request for supplier qualifications (RFSQ) for a China market service provider that would arrange, among other things, transportation, accommodations, meeting requirements, and interpretation and translation for when the province’s representatives travel to China.

Whatever organization is awarded the contract will be relied upon on an “as requested” basis for the length of the contract, a detail that was not included in the RFSQ documents.

Tracy Barron, a spokesperson for the province’s department of intergovernmental affairs, said the initial contract is for a three-year period starting March 31. The province then has two one-year options to extend the contract.

“This contract builds on an earlier RFSP to provide logistic services with China,” Barron wrote in an emailed statement.

Documents state that representatives of the provincial government visit China “several times a year” and that it appears the province is committed to continuing that practice.

Premier Stephen McNeil has often taken part in those journeys, with his most recent trip coming in November. It was his eighth visit to China — which the government’s RFSQ refers to as a “mission” — since becoming premier in 2013.

McNeil has insisted that more can be gained through continuing to develop economic and cultural ties with China — a sentiment echoed by Barron in the statement provided to Global News.

“Nova Scotia’s relationship with China continues to benefit Nova Scotia businesses and the economy,” said Barron.

The RFSP indicates that the province has found some measure of success with its exports to China growing from $197 million in 2013 to approximately $1 billion.

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