CALGARY, Alberta, July 16 (Reuters) - FortisBC has signedCanada's first long-term supply agreement to produce liquefiednatural gas for export to China, the company said in a statementon Tuesday.

Under the two-year agreement with China's Top Speed EnergyCorp, 53,000 tonnes of LNG will be shipped from the Tilburyfacility in British Columbia to China by summer 2021, saidDouglas Stout, vice president of market development and externalrelations for privately-owned FortisBC.

The agreement is the first of its kind to secure regulardeliveries to China, said Stout.

"There is strong demand for Canadian LNG in China and thisis an exciting time to be working in the industry here in B.C,"he added.

Since 2017 FortisBC has been supplying LNG to customers forexport to China on a spot basis.

Top Speed Energy Chief Executive Officer Chen Jianrong saidhis company was pleased to be working with FortisBC to moveCanadian exports to China.

The contract was also welcomed by the Canadian government,which has been keen to see a Canadian LNG export industrydevelop in British Columbia.

"The announcement of an LNG contract at Tilbury is anencouraging step for Canada's LNG export industry," saidAmarjeet Sohi, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources in astatement.

(Reporting by Nia WilliamsEditing by Tom Brown) ((nia.williams@thomsonreuters.com; +1 403 531 1624; ReutersMessaging: nia.williams.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))