Prime Minister Mark Carney has arrived in Beijing, marking the first visit by a Canadian prime minister to China in the last eight years. During his visit, Carney is scheduled to meet with senior communist leaders on Thursday, followed by a meeting with President Xi Jinping and a business banquet on Friday.
This visit is significant as it is the first by a Canadian prime minister since China detained two Canadians for almost three years in 2019, in response to the arrest of a Chinese tech executive in Vancouver on a U.S. extradition warrant.
Carney aims to enhance trade and environmental cooperation with China while ensuring that sectors related to national security or the Arctic remain unaffected by Beijing’s influence. A key focus of discussions will be China’s tariffs on pork, canola, and seafood, which were imposed in retaliation to Ottawa’s tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel, and aluminum.
Western and Atlantic premiers are hopeful that China will lift these tariffs, with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe traveling to China during Carney’s visit. However, Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed concerns about potential policy changes that could impact the Canadian auto sector.
This visit is seen as important for both countries as they seek to move forward from years of strained diplomatic relations, with Ottawa aiming to double non-U.S. trade by 2035. Despite previous concerns about Chinese interference in Canadian affairs, human rights issues, and military actions, Carney’s government views Beijing as a strategic partner.
In response to various challenges, the Liberals in 2022 categorized China as a “disruptive global power” that differs in values from Canada. Carney’s government has emphasized the importance of strategic engagement with Beijing and recently advised two Liberal MPs to cut short a visit to Taiwan to avoid conflicting with Ottawa’s stance on Taiwan’s independence.
Overall, the visit is seen as a brief yet crucial step in improving relations between China and Canada, amidst ongoing political and economic complexities.
