China replaced U.K. as Canada's number two trade export distination as its returns from goods exported to China was $19.3 billion while its returns from goods exported to U.K. was only $18.6 billion last year.

"Canadian goods exports to China surged 15 per cent last year to $19.3-billion, paced by a near-doubling of canola seed and canola oil shipments," the Globe and Mail reported citing a trade figure released by Harper's government.

According to the trade figure, Canada's exports to U.K. fell down nearly one percent to $18.6 billion.

While Canada's overall export fell down nearly one percent, Canada's exports to China have almost doubled between 2008 and 2012.

"In a big-picture sense, it's just an inevitable reality that as China becomes larger, it would overtake the Old World," the news paper quoted Dan Ciuriak, former deputy chief economist at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, as saying.

"It was just a question of time," said Ciuriak.

Saying that Canada's trade with China is destined to increase, Ciuriak said that China and Canada are natural trading partners.

As China's annual economy has been growing at the rate of ten percent for most of the last ten years, China is eyeing upon the Canada's rich natural resources including oil, gas and forestry.

Canadian coal and iron ore exports to China also have raised sharply last year, reported the news paper.

Dana Fox, head of the Ontario based company ClevrU Corp said that the potential for Canadian companies exporting goods to China is 'enormous'.

"It is an opportunity that Canada can't turn down," said Fox.

Ed Fast, Canadian trade minister in a statement said that building trade with Asia-Pacific region is a key part of Canada's pro-trade plan.

"Improving access to high-growth markets in the Asia-Pacific region is a key part of our government's job-creating, pro-trade plan," Mr. Fast said in a statement.

Ed Fast is scheduled to visit China and Japan in April.  

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