Mayor Gregor Robertson leaves for China Saturday on a 12-day trade mission that he anticipates will lead to deals between local companies and Chinese businesses.

But while his role as mayor will likely open doors for the 22 business owners joining him on the trip, there’s another factor that could make for a successful mission. That factor wasn’t mentioned in Wednesday’s announcement of the “Vancouver Green Capital Business Mission,” which aims to showcase the city’s leading talent in clean technology, green buildings and digital media.

Call it the Bethune factor—as in Dr. Norman Bethune, best known for developing the first mobile blood transfusion service in Spain in 1936, and later performing emergency battlefield operations in the Second Sino-Japanese War in China. Bethune is a national hero in China, and the mayor happens to be a distant relative. Bethune was a cousin of Robertson’s grandmother. Robertson, his brother Patrick and late father John all share Bethune as their middle name. When the local Chinese media learned of Robertson’s lineage in the 2008 civic election campaign, it was big news. The mayor’s Bethune connection is also known in China, where there is a memorial for the Ontario native who died in 1939. “I hope it helps to boost our opportunities in China,” said the mayor, who plans to visit the Bethune memorial south of Beijing. “My family connection is another useful piece to open doors. Early indicators are there is real interest in that connection because it’s a huge deal in China compared to what it is here.”

David Helliwell, chief executive officer of Pulse Energy, is one of the business owners joining Robertson on the trip. Helliwell is aware of the mayor’s Bethune connection. “It can’t hurt,” Helliwell said. “The question is, how much will it help. A lot of that will depend on who you’re dealing with.”

Helliwell’s company employs electrical engineers, mathematicians and computer engineers who develop software to help businesses and large public facilities such as schools reduce energy use and costs. While he could visit China on his own, he believes Robertson’s presence and commitment to making Vancouver the greenest city in the world will lead to key contacts with Chinese government officials. “He brings some legitimacy and can set up lunches with the mayor of Shanghai. If we just showed up on our own, [the mayor of Shanghai] probably wouldn’t return our calls,” said Helliwell, adding that he’s realistic about his company’s chances of immediately landing contracts in the highly competitive Chinese market.

All businesses on the trip are covering their own costs, estimated at $350,000. The mayor’s tab is $45,000 and covers the costs of his chief of staff Mike Magee, assistant Lara Honrado and Coun. Raymond Louie, who will arrive later for an event with Vancouver’s sister city, Guangzhou. An additional $75,000 is being spent by the Vancouver Economic Development Commission, which will cover venue costs, two staff and a contractor. About 80 per cent of the commission’s funding comes from the city.

When former mayor Sam Sullivan visited the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008, the tab came in at $36,000. Sullivan’s “Hong Kong study tour” cost $3,700.

mhowell@vancourier.com