China's role in Canada's energy market valued by Albertans: survey

China's key role in Canada's energy market is highly valued by the people from the western province of Alberta, the heart of the Canadian oil industry, said a survey released on Thursday.

There is a general consensus among Albertans on the importance of diversifying the province's economy and market access and that China will play a key role in both of the fields, according to the survey by the China Institute of the University of Alberta.

The survey, 2015 Albertans' Views on China, indicated that close to four in five of Albertans consider China an important market for Alberta's goods and services and 69 percent agree that trading more with Asia is in Alberta's interest.

Alberta is the largest contributor to Canadian oil and equivalent production. In 2014, Alberta accounted for 78 percent of Canada's oil and equivalent production, based on the official data.

A large majority of Albertans continued to support the building of energy infrastructure to export energy to Asia, welcome Chinese tourism and value the contribution of Chinese students to Alberta's society, the survey said.

However, the survey also found that the skepticism towards China's investment is growing. In addition, fewer Albertans appear to link the economic strength and opportunities offered by the fast expanding economy to the future of Alberta's own growth.

"The survey indicates that a majority of Albertans accept the importance of decreasing Alberta's reliance on the United States," said Professor Gordon Houlden, director of the China Institute.

China will grow in importance for Canada and Alberta in this 21st century, said the professor, adding increasing broad understanding of the Asian giant is in the interest of this country and this province.

Over 1,200 Albertans are polled during the fifth annual survey conducted by the Population Research Lab at the University of Alberta. Endi