That conflict quickly rose to the surface as executives peppered the Prime Minister with questions about whether he would welcome their money in sensitive Canadian industries such as culture and agriculture – the latter from a company with negotiators now in Canada trying to buy pig farms.
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Canadian officials caution there is unlikely to be an announcement on possible free-trade talks with China during Trudeau’s visit, which culminates this weekend with a G-20 summit meeting in the city of Hangzhou.
“I have to say that your question is full of prejudice against China and arrogance”.
“It’s important for Canada to have a stable, steady, constructive, effective relationship with China”, said Roland Paris, a former foreign policy advisor to Trudeau. “Until now, the China-Canada relationship has somewhat lacked in stability and regularity”.
Canadians “have always known trade is essential to creating success for our citizens”, he said.
The negotiations have been extended twice since the weekend, when a deadline expired on a 72-hour job action notice issued last Thursday by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. We’ll get an idea this week whether the Trudeau government is truly committed to pressing Beijing on human rights, and whether China’s tough, brash government really has the self-confidence to listen.
Xinhua said Canada should not let “groundless concerns” about human rights stand in the way of cooperation.
The poll found twice as many people (56 per cent) say they support selling natural gas to Asia than are opposed (28 per cent).
“This year marks 45 years of diplomatic relations between Canada and China”, Trudeau said as he stood beside Li in the Great Hall of the People, which overlooks Tiananmen Square.
But this trip could move things forward.
In his closing remarks, Ma predicted the Canadian-Chinese bond would grow stronger.
“As we speak, the two sides are in close communication on preparatory work of this visit”, spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in a joint briefing with Chinese premier Li Keqiang, said Canada will be able to continue with the current canola export regime and he hoped for a long-term solution.
His eight-day visit, which concludes on Sept. 7, includes meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) and Premier Li Keqiang (李克強), and his participation at the G20 leaders’ summit in Hangzhou.
Meeting them gave Mr. Trudeau a chance to promote Canada before a crowd with significant economic power.
“As we carefully consider joining the (bank), we look at the impact these investments would have on global economic growth and the potential for Canadian companies to explore new commercial opportunities”. The concerns led the former Conservative government to restrict state-owned Chinese investment in Alberta’s oilsands.
Despite China’s rising importance in the minds of Canadians, twice as many people still see the US (81 per cent) as highly important to national prosperity than China (40 per cent), according to the poll. Trudeau’s Liberals took over government after winning election in the fall of 2015.
“My government believes very, very much in the importance of investing in infrastructure”, Trudeau said Tuesday during a roundtable discussion with business leaders. He will also visit Shanghai and Hong Kong.
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“We’ve made very clear what a key issue this is”, Freeland told reporters in Beijing.
