In a dialogue session with Chinese entrepreneurs, Trudeau, who started today a tour of this Asian territory, said he hopes to convey “friendship and openness towards China” not only to his children but also to the future generations of Canada.
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The lawyer for the Garratt family says they’re extremely frustrated by a lack of progress in securing his release.
The Canadian public is hesitant to embrace China, partly due to concerns about foreign ownership of companies, human rights and intellectual property rights.
Trudeau is now on his first official visit to Beijing. Brian Innes, Vice President of Government Relations at the Canola Council of Canada joins BNN to explain why he sees this as a step in the right direction. “China is our number two trading partner, so that’s in effect a hit below the waterline for our trade with China”, said Houlden.
It will be all the more hard since they must not shy away from raising the touchy issues of human rights.
Trudeau says Canada can help ease these concerns by deepening its business partnerships with China and by helping the Asian country with governance and rule-of-law issues.
But this trip could move things forward.
Tuesday’s event was moderated by Jack Ma, founder of the Alibaba e-commerce giant. “If there’s been difficulty deploying capital in the oilsands, it isn’t because the Chinese aren’t welcome, but because governments in Canada have driven off investment by Canadians and reputable worldwide investors [because of restrictive regulations]”.
Ambassador Guy Saint-Jacques highlighted those sticking points Wednesday after Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Canada and China would soon launch a feasibility study on an eventual free trade deal.
China founded the US$100-billion Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank late a year ago to provide other countries in the region access to capital for investments in projects in areas such as transportation, power and telecommunications.
Finance Minister Bill Morneau says Ottawa believes the bank will make an important impact on the global economy, and therefore the Canadian economy, through infrastructure investments.
“Investments in infrastructure can contribute to long-term growth and help ensure a better quality of life for the middle class – it’s a belief that applies at home and overseas”, Andree-Lyne Halle wrote in an email. The AIIB has about US$100-billion in capital.
Last spring, the Chinese-led bank announced its 57 intended charter members. Chinese officials have said it plans to loan out US$10-15 billion over the next five years.
Canadian officials said the goal of Trudeau’s visit is to “restart the relationship” with China.
Trudeau also hosted Wang in Ottawa on the heels of the G-7 summit that riled China, one Trudeau preceded with a state visit to Japan, a regional rival.
From Canada’s perspective, the stakes of the visit are also very high.
Wang berated the journalist’s question as “full of prejudice against China and arrogance” and as “totally unacceptable”, to the visible discomfort of global affairs minister of Stephane Dion, who stood next to him.
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Their main goal is to open the doors to China a little wider.
