I had the honour of celebrating the 45th anniversary of the official Alberta .

Over the past two days in Sapporo, I had the honour of celebrating the 45th anniversary of the official Alberta - Hokkaido partnership. I met with Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki, Vice-Governor Hamasaka, and Speaker Tomihara to discuss shared priorities like energy and food security, and opportunities to grow our bilateral trade.

Alberta and Hokkaido share a strong bond and a mutual interest in advancing innovation - from CCUS and AI data centres to semiconductors and the safe export of hydrogen and ammonia. Alberta's government also looks forward to continuing these important discussions when we welcome the Hokkaido delegation's visit to Alberta next month.

During our meetings, we exchanged ideas on how to accelerate the development of low-carbon technologies, enhance agricultural cooperation, and promote cultural exchanges between our two regions. We also recognized the significant potential for collaboration in the fields of tourism, education, and healthcare, where our regions can learn from each other's best practices.

I am confident that our partnership will continue to flourish, driven by our shared values of innovation, sustainability, and mutual respect. As we look to the future, I am excited to explore new areas of cooperation that will benefit the people of Alberta and Hokkaido alike.
Premier Smith Danelle