Statistics Canada has co-operated with China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for many years through the Statistical Information Management Program (SIMP). The program supported statistical capacity-building in China, with special emphasis on the sustainability aspect of the activities. This ensured that the NBS would have both the knowledge and the intention to implement the results of the projects.
The first phase of SIMP (SIMP I), from 1996 to 2004, covered national accounts, household surveys, a survey skills development course, and resource management.
SIMP II, from 2005 to February 2013, was also supported with cost-recovery funds from the Canadian International Development Agency and the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. SIMP II had four main components: a social statistics project to integrate rural and urban household surveys; an economic statistics project to create an economic survey structure enable better gross domestic product estimates; an environment statistics project to enhance environmental statistics, in order to create environmental accounts; and an overarching management component.
Statistics Canada and the NBS decided to continue their co-operation: the two nations signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in March 2013.
The MOU identifies two main co-operative projects: corporate business architecture and quality assurance for household surveys. The MOU also states that Statistics Canada, from time to time, will participate in workshops organized by the China International Statistical Training Center of the NBS.
For more information, please contact statcan.international-international.statcan@statcan.gc.ca.