OTTAWA, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Canada has a long way to go to fully take advantage of the opportunities presented by China's fast-growing economy, a Canadian study report said on Thursday.

　　Independent think-tank The Fraser Institute released the report entitled "Canada's Economic Relations with China" in Vancouver, while Institute Executive Director Mark Mullins discussed the findings at a Colloquium in Edmonton.

　　David Emerson, a former Canadian foreign affairs minister and a member of the Canada China Business Council (CCBC) Board, and Chinese Ambassador Lan Lijun, joined the discussions.

　　CCBC chair Peter Harder said the study is a timely and important contribution to the public and policy discourses on Sino-Canadian trade issues.

　　Canadian policymakers agree that greater trade with China serves Canada's best interest, but one of the challenges in discussing Canada-China trade and investment has always been to base the conversation on an accurate understanding of the relationship, Harder said in a press release on Thursday.

　　"This study will provide both the public and policy debates with a much improved platform for discussions," he said.

　　The Fraser Institute study quantifies bilateral relations in terms of Canada's merchandise trade with China, its trade in services with China, inward and outward foreign direct investment between the two countries and the presence of Chinese immigrants in Canada.

　　The study not only comments on Canada's current economic status with China, but also identifies potential areas of growth in the relationship.