SHANGHAI - Governor General of Canada Michaelle Jean, accompanied by an official delegation, paid a visit to the Expo Garden on Thursday to celebrate Canada's National Pavilion Day, which coincided with the country's national day.

Canadian?performers sing?at?the?ceremony of?Canada Day at the Expo park?in Shanghai on June 1, 2010. [Photo/Xinhua]

Jean is the first Canadian governor general to visit China in 16 years, following a visit by Governor General Ramon John Hnatyshyn in 1994. She is also the first Canadian governor general to celebrate Canada Day in a foreign country.

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"I am here on this festive occasion to tell our Chinese friends just how much the relationship between Canada and China means to us," Jean said.

"Canada and China are excellent friends and strategic partners in a variety of key sectors."

During her visit to the Expo Garden, she stopped by several other pavilions, including the China Pavilion.

Jean also had an engagement at Fudan University, one of the most prestigious in China, where on Wednesday she delivered a keynote speech to 100 students, along with Chinese and Canadian urban planners.

"I was struck by the extent of the appetite for more extensive relations," said Jean. "Sino-Canadian relations extend far beyond our respective governments."

During her trip to China, which lasts from June 30 to July 5, Jean plans to visit Guangzhou and areas devastated by the earthquake in Sichuan province in 2008, where she will pay particular attention to some of the reconstruction sites that were funded by Canada.

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz hosted a beef barbecue in the Canada Pavilion on Thursday to celebrate Canada Day. The beef served up was specially imported from Canada.

Canada is the first country stricken by mad cow disease that has been allowed to import beef to China in almost a decade.