Apart from expanding trade and investment, Johnston's agenda also includes embracing more collaboration on the innovation front. He stressed the importance of technological and social innovation for the two countries, and said he hoped to see further potential being unlocked in green energy and best practices in sustainable development.

Johnston said the best way to stimulate innovation is by "experiencing others dealing with the same issue but from a different angle".

The same logic applies to the strengthening of people-to-people communication, which he valued the most in promoting exchanges in education, culture and tourism.

Johnston said he was pleased to see the growth in Canada's tourism sector, after Beijing granted Ottawa Approved Destination Status in 2009. Forty percent of visas issued to Chinese applicants in 2012 allowed multiple entries, a scenario rarely seen in the past.

His family has a deep cultural link with China. Four of Johnston's daughters studied and stayed in China for some time.

During his stay in Shanghai, the governor general met with Canadian students to discuss innovation and education in both countries' education systems. He also witnessed the signing of an agreement between the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Medicine and the Shanghai Jiao Tong University's School of Medicine, on a strategic partnership in medical education and training.

Student exchanges between China and Canada soared in the past few years, with more than 84,000 Chinese students studying in Canada — the largest number of international students, while approximately 3,400 Canadian students are studying in China.

Johnston said that an earlier-set target of 100,000 enrolled students in such exchanges by 2015 will be achieved a lot sooner.

"We will continue to work very hard to try to be sure that we are competitive with other countries in attracting talents, and even a little bit ahead of them," he said.