Hi, HughRG.  I'll hazard an answer to the burning (well, smoldering) question, "Why are we getting more involved with China?"  Some reasons:

1. China wants to be involved with us.  Many, of their individual citizens do, Chinese business does, and so does their government.  

2. Biz opportunities aren't the only reason Chinese are interested--personal/family reasons, too, due to worry about China itself; willing to pay for visas.  Eager to get their kids educated here. Maybe live here full-time.  Trickledowns: wow, big boost to education,  retail &. real estate sectors!

3. Good timing!  Freeland's late to the party re; US. About the time Obama (yeah, the same guy so many Chamber of Commerce types clambered to see and hear in Montreal recently) nixed XL pipeline, Canada realized it needed an additional big trade partner.  So, Canada got excited about China. 

Real question:  why did were so many Montrealers excited about the man who pooped on oil sands and quashed XL opportunities?)