Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday he had had hard conversations with Chinese leaders on human rights, as his government announced the signing of 56 deals with China worth more than $1.2 billion.
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The Chinese government had threatened to enforce tighter regulations on the amount of foreign material permitted in canola exports from Canada, but the two sides agreed Wednesday to leave the existing standard -3.5 per cent – in place while they continue to negotiate a long-term deal. The declaration aims at strengthening efforts to promote trade between Canadian small- and medium-sized businesses and Chinese consumers, and expand the two-way flow of goods.
He said Chinese tourist travel to Canada went up 24 per cent in the first six months of this year, helping make China the third source of visitors after the USA and the United Kingdom.
With an entourage of business leaders and climate change experts, to name a few, Trudeau will use his eight-day state visit to boost commercial and political ties with China, in addition to attending a pivotal G20 summit in Hangzhou on September 4.
“My government believes very much in the importance of investing in infrastructure, that is one of the reasons why we are looking very favorably at the possibility of joining the AIIB”, he said.
“China matters to Canada”. There are more than 30 countries waiting to join the AIIB, which already has 57 founding members, officials at the bank said.
Trudeau’s speech also discussed the vast economic potential for both countries across numerous traditional industries like natural resources, but also in newer sectors like clean technology. Chinese tourist travel to Canada rose 24 per cent in the first six months of this year, said Saint-Jacques. The first Chinese yuan clearing center in North America was launched in Toronto previous year.
China’s total investment in Canada hit 58.3 billion dollars past year.
In Trudeau’s WeChat account, the Canadian PM remarked “I am honored to present Premier Li Keqiang a memorial medal of Normal Bethune, which was made in 1973 during my father’s visit to China”.
“That’s what we’re working on right now and I’m confident we’re going to get there”.
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China is Turkey’s third-largest trading partner, though the two countries have clashed over China’s handling of Uighur minorities who share cultural ties with Turkey.
