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02-11-2025
OTTAWA/ BEIJING: China’s President Xi Jinping met with Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday, with the leaders vowing to advance bilateral relations and Carney accepting Xi’s invitation to visit China.
They held a summit on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Gyeongju, South Korea, part of Carney’s tour of Asia in an effort to deepen trade and security ties in the region, at a time when Canada is struggling to lessen its dependence on the US and seek new markets.
Canada remains embroiled in a bitter trade dispute with the United States, its biggest trading partner, followed by China. Carney has previously stressed the need to restart broad engagement with China after years of poor relations.
“Prime Minister Carney accepted President Xi’s invitation to visit China at a mutually convenient time,” Carney’s office said in a statement.
Carney and Xi discussed solutions on trade issues including agriculture and agri-food products, such as canola, as well as seafood and electric vehicles, Carney’s office said.
The leaders also discussed a framework to deepen cooperation across a range of areas, from energy, agriculture, manufacturing, climate change, and international finance, according to Carney’s office.
Xi told Carney that China values Canada’s stated readiness to improve bilateral relations, according to state broadcaster CCTV, adding that China was willing to work with Canada to put ties back on track.
Both sides agreed to advance the resolution of specific economic and trade issues, and promote the development of the China–Canada strategic partnership, CCTV said.
Earlier on Friday, Carney told a business event at the APEC gatherings the world of rules-based liberalized trade and investment had passed, adding that Canada aimed to double its non-US exports over the course of the next decade.
Earlier, Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney embarks on his first official visit to Asia on Friday in an attempt to deepen trade and security ties at a time when the North American country is struggling to lessen its overwhelming dependence on the US and redefine its foreign policy in pursuit of new markets.
Canadian government officials said Carney’s week-long trip might also include a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a possible effort to reset a previously fractious relationship worsened by an ongoing trade war.
US President Donald Trump terminated trade talks with Canada via a late-night post on Truth Social on Thursday, over an Ontario political ad that used Republican icon Ronald Reagan saying tariffs cause economic disaster.
Analysts say it will be critical for Carney to explain to Asian leaders that Canada has its own agenda and is no longer as aligned with the US, whose president has repeatedly threatened to annex Canada as the 51st state.
“While the world economy is fragmenting, Carney needs to make it clear that Canada stands apart and is still interested in rules-based trade and globalization,” said Vina Nadjibulla, vice president of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.
Last month, Canada signed a trade deal with Indonesia, aiming to establish duty-free access for up to 95% of its goods exported there in the next year.
Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu told media Canada is now targeting agreements with the Philippines, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan.
Carney will attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Kuala Lumpur, visit Singapore for meetings and attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea. (Int’l Monitoring Desk)
