Trudeau and his family arrive in Shanghai, China, where the prime minister hopes to strengthen Canada’s business and cultural ties with the world’s second-largest economy.
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Trudeau is seeking deeper ties with China but a dispute over canola trade, government divisions over China policy and the case of a detained citizen could limit his gains.
On Wednesday, Canada’s ambassador to China, Guy Saint-Jacques, said the country has been moving backwards over the past three years when it comes to personal freedoms, particularly its censorship of the Internet.
A quick look at some of the key developments Thursday from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s ongoing visit to China.
“The success of the world is inexorably linked to China’s success, and I know that these are not easy conversations to have, but they are necessary ones”.
The agreements include a letter of intent between Fort Capital Partners of British Columbia and Zhonguancun Private Equity and Venture Capital Association for up to $656 million of investment in North American, mainly Canadian, companies in the health sciences, clean tech, technology, media and telecommunications, foods and agriculture, and energy sectors.
“That’s why Canada has used opportunities to express its views to China”, Saint-Jacques said.
Additionally, he welcomed $1.2 billion in commercial agreements between Ottawa and Beijing that he said would generate jobs for middle-class Canadians.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon landed earlier today in Hangzhou.
Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks with Justin Trudeau (not pictured) during their meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.
In addition to the Canadian Pavilion launch, Alibaba formed a strategic partnership with the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service in China (TCS) to better facilitate the flow of goods and services between Canada and China, especially by way of e-commerce. This has increased the Chinese tourist visiting Canada by nearly 200 percent this year.
Earlier Thursday in Shanghai, Trudeau met Cirque du Soleil chief executive Daniel Lamarre and Fosun International chairman Guo Guangchang.
Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire with their daughter Ella-Grace take a walk along the Great Wall of China.
Canada will also apply for membership at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
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“Canada and China have also agreed to make 2018 the Year of Canada-China Tourism”.
