Canada will introduce a new immigration model in 2015 to accelerate the process for economic immigration, Canada's immigration minister said Wednesday.

The new Express Entry system will be a faster, more effective and more efficient recruitment process selecting immigrants based on the skills and attributes that Canada needs, said Chris Alexander, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration of Canada (CIC).

He made the remarks in a keynote speech at an evening function on the prospect of immigration policy organized by the Canada-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, held in Vancouver.

"The Express Entry will help skilled international workers connect with Canadian employers and come to Canada on a permanent basis," he said.

According to a CIC statement, the system will allow employers to have a key role in selecting economic immigrants and providing advice to the Canadian government.

Alexander said the reform, along with the Bill C-24, or Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act, will shorten the processing times for new citizenship.

The minister also took the opportunity to praise the contributions Chinese immigrants have made to the country.

"We are very proud of the strong relationship that exists between China and Canada, and we will continue to welcome record number of individuals from China who contribute to our economy, labor market and our communities," he said.

Canada is a popular destination for Chinese immigrants. Last year, more than 34,000 Chinese citizens became permanent residents in Canada, the first step towards full Canadian citizenship. Nearly 1.5 million people living in Canada have a Chinese background.