Canada, Trudeau added, can help China when it comes to governance and rule-of-law issues as well as global fears about the “tremendous appetite” of Chinese entrepreneurs and companies as they seek out foreign investments and partnerships.
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Some good news for Canadian canola producers as the prime minister’s visit to China continues.
China’s ambassador to Canada said in an interview with The Canadian Press that his country has made progress in addressing worldwide concerns in recent years.
But Saint-Jacques, who accompanied Trudeau at meetings Wednesday with Li and later with President Xi Jinping, did share some details of the prime minister’s position on the matter.
The visit will take him to such places as Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Hong Kong.
Well-placed sources said last month there were divisions inside Ottawa as to how much Canada should open its markets and economy to China.
The Chinese government has had renewed optimism – and “high expectations”- about its relationship with Canada, particularly since Trudeau’s Liberals came to power, Luo said.
He is also likely to discuss the human rights situation in China and the difficulties faced by people, who hold a double citizenship in the country.
According to Reuters, disputes over canola exports, government divisions over China policy and the case of a detained citizen on espionage charges are expected to limit Trudeau’s visit.
Back on the mainland, Families and Social Development Minister Jean-Yves Duclos joins provincial and municipal leaders for an “important infrastructure event” at the Levis town hall while Status of Women Minister Patty Hajdu drops by the Dawson Trail Craft Brewery to show Team Trudeau’s support for “small business development and growth” in Thunder Bay.
Trudeau also says he will raise human rights, an issue of great sensitivity in Beijing. Houlden says China made a big investment into Alberta oilfields and since the recession hit, they are not seeing the return they normally would.
Trudeau is now on his first official visit to Beijing.
But Trudeau also told the crowd that China “should be able to ask for advice and take suggestions about how to be better” – a carefully worded message given China’s history of rebuking the appearance of condescension from foreign dignitaries.
Li insisted that China is a country of the rule of law and said judicial authorities would handle cases in strict accordance with the law.
Balancing such issues is sure to complicate Trudeau’s goal of making inroads.
Australia agreed to contribute $930 million over five years, which the Australian Broadcasting Corp. has said would make that country the sixth-largest shareholder. “Until now, the China-Canada relationship has somewhat lacked in stability and regularity”.
Stanford, now an adviser to the Unifor auto-sector union, pointed to Canada’s “enormous” $45 billion trade deficit with China a year ago – a shortfall that ballooned from about $190 million in 1992, according to Statistics Canada.
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While only temporary, the exemption for Canada will be seen as a small victory for Trudeau.
