Denis Coderre's love affair with China

No stranger to the click of cameras, Montreal MayorDenis Coderre flashed a big, toothy grinwhile handing Chinese Premier Li Keqiang a key to the city on Friday.

It was part two of the Montreal leg of Li's publicity tour. In the morning, Coderre accompanied LiandPrime Minister Justin Trudeau to the Bell Centre, where they met former members of the Montreal Canadiens.

Coderre'spresence at thephoto-opswas no surprise. He hasmade a clear, concerted effort to court the foreign power during his time in office.

• Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Justin Trudeau bring trade talks to Montreal

When Air Canada announced its first daily, direct flight between Montreal and Shanghai on Friday, the mayor didn't hesitate to take full credit.

"In a way, itis a concrete result from the trade mission I led in China last year," said Coderre.

The Air Canada flight is now the second direct flight operating between Montreal and China. This time last year,Air Chinabegan three flights a week to Beijing from Trudeau International.

Coderre's 'political will' to attract Chinese investment

Coderre's efforts to cozy up to the Chinese are well-documented.

In June 2015, he 'expressed his admiration for China's development and achievements'in a meeting with the country's ambassador to Canada, Luo Zhaohui.

In March, Coderre was the speaker at a sold-out dinnerhosted by the Canada-China Business Council.

But the most notable example of Coderre's hustle to attract Chinese investment was a trade mission to China last fall. Accompanied by a delegation of 70, the mayor boasted of signingnine contracts in two days while abroad.

"If we want to do business, especially with China, a trustworthy relationship must be in place and we have to exhibit a political will," he said.

• Montreal's politicians spent $200Kon travel since November 2013

That political will, though, comes at a cost. Coderrefaced criticism earlier this year for the hefty price tag of his administration's ambitious itinerary.

Between November 2013 and January 2016,his government spent $200,000 in travel expenses,taking 85 trips to five different continents.

GuillaumeLavoie, an opposition councillor withProjetMontral,said that figuredoesn't includeother expenses incurred during business trips, such as accommodations for staff whoare not elected officials.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg," saidLavoieat the time.

What is the payoff?

Whether intentionally or not, Montreal has piqued the interest of would-be immigrants andtourists fromChina, according to Jocelyn Kao, a real-estate agent who commutes between China and Montreal.

Since 1994, she's held seminars in China hoping to make Chinese fall in love with snowy Montreal.Business was steady, until the last couple of yearswhen it exploded.

"In Montreal, it's really improved a lot. But we're so far behind Toronto and Vancouver," she said.

She cites additional flights as a reason why her business has seen growth growth that has also been seen in the tourism industry.

Nearly 62,000 Chinese tourists visited Quebec last year, which represents an increase of 15 per cent from 2014.

Almost 84,000 visitors are expected to arrive in 2016.

Vancouver's foreign buying tax could be Montreal's gain

Other factors are in place that couldencouragemore Chinese investment in Quebec. Some real estate experts believe Montreal is amongthe cities that stand to gain from Vancouver's new tax on foreign property buyers.

"Certainly I think Toronto and potentially other markets like Montreal will start to become more attractive, because comparatively speaking they will be less expensive,'' said Brad Henderson, president and CEO of Sotheby's International RealtyCanada.

• Could Montreal's real estate market be the next target for foreign investors?

With Toronto currently mulling a foreign-buyer tax of its own, Montreal could be next in line for Chinese buyers eyeing Canadian opportunities.