TORONTO: Despite talk of forging new business ties with China, Canadian executives have been slow to diversify into the emerging Asia-Pacific market, industry observers said.

Canadian companies have sent delegates on numerous trips to China in recent months, but they have yet to translate into a significant increase in business between the two countries.

Leaders of those companies instead have preferred to pursue existing and more comfortable relationships closer to home. They rely on the United States as a bigger and easier growth opportunity, said Sarah Kutulakos, executive director of the Canada China Business Council.