Chinese President Xi Jinping on the 16th told Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, "Although there have been storms and ups and downs in bilateral relations, we must adhere to the correct path of mutual coexistence," signaling a will to improve ties. Amid U.S. tariff pressure and the threat of Canadian merger, Xi also said, "Let us respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency and Reuters, the two leaders held a summit meeting that afternoon at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. It was about two months since they last met at last year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' meeting in Gyeongju, and it was the first visit to China by a Canadian prime minister in nine years since former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Aug. 2017.
Xi said, "Our meeting last year opened a new phase in improving relations between China and Canada," adding, "In the months since, the two countries have discussed in depth the recovery and rebooting of cooperation in various fields and achieved positive results. The sound and stable development of China-Canada relations serves the common interests of both countries." Xi added that the two countries should jointly develop in areas including the economy and trade, become mutually trusting partners, and respond together to global challenges.
Carney said, "We can build a new relationship together, based on the best parts of our past ties, that fits the new global reality. It is important to launch this new strategic partnership in a time of division," citing agriculture, agri-food, energy and finance as areas where "we can make immediate progress and achieve historic results." Carney then noted that he respects the "one China" principle and said he wants to build a sustainable new strategic partnership with China.
China-Canada relations cooled after Canada, at the request of the United States in Dec. 2018, arrested Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, who had been staying in Vancouver. In retaliation, China detained two Canadians, and the detainees were exchanged only three years later, in 2021.
In 2023, allegations emerged that China surveilled a China-born Canadian politician with anti-China leanings, prompting Canada to expel Chinese diplomats posted in the country, and China expelled Canadian diplomats in response. The following year, allegations surfaced that China interfered in Canada's 2021 general election, and Canada, following the United States and the European Union (EU), imposed high tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and steel and aluminum.
In response, China last year imposed retaliatory tariffs on Canadian agricultural and livestock products. Then, after both countries were hit by "tariff bombs" from the U.S. administration of Donald Trump and Canada faced a merger threat from the United States, an opportunity arose for the two sides to join hands.