I want to stress the fact that government support is crucial if we want to increase trade with China. The Prime Minister's trade mission was mentioned earlier. I myself accompanied the Premier of Quebec, Mr. Couillard, when he led an economic mission to China too. Government support is key to further developing our relationship with China. Considering the way that country operates, it's very important to know that we have your support.
As for the question about how many jobs could be created, it's difficult for me to provide an exact answer. What I do know, however, is that, as my colleague pointed out, increasing our trade with China is extremely important.
China has transformed itself. It used to be a manufacturer and the world's factory, but it is now becoming a country of consumers. It needs raw materials and commodities. It is buying more and more. The country's middle class now consists of more than 200 million people, perhaps even more than 300 million. That's the population of the United States.
This is an important opportunity for us. If there is a place for our Canadian companies to grow, it is China. You will understand that it's difficult for me to quantify this, but China represents a wonderful opportunity for Canadian companies over the next 10, 15 and 20 years. We should pay close attention to this, while keeping in mind that business is done differently in China. That is why we need governments to provide us with significant support. I think the RMB's implementation is greasing the gears and helping us contribute to both countries' economic growth.