Gov't hopes for 'new energy' in China-Canada partnership
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's first official visit to China on Tuesday is expected to turn a new page on the previously inconsistent China-Canada ties, observers said Monday, while cautioning that China should not be too optimistic about Canada changing its tone about ideological differences. [Special coverage]
Trudeau is set to visit Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Hong Kong from Tuesday to September 6 to focus on "economic connections" with China, The Canadian Press reported. He will attend the G20 summit in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, on September 4 and 5.
Trudeau is expected to meet Chinese leaders, talk with Chinese and Canadian entrepreneurs, visit the Great Wall, mingle with high school students along with former NBA star Yao Ming, and pay tribute to Canadian soldiers who defended Hong Kong during World War II, according to Canadian media reports.
The Chinese government has been hopeful of more constructive engagement with Trudeau, leader of the Liberal Party who assumed office late last year, replacing former conservative prime minister Stephen Harper. In his decade-long stay in office, Harper had upset the two countries' ties repeatedly after meeting with the Dalai Lama and criticizing China's human rights records.
"We believe this visit will instill new energy to the development of the China-Canada strategic partnership," Chinese Foreign ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a press conference in Beijing on Monday, adding that Chinese leaders will extensively exchange ideas with Trudeau over mutual ties, practical cooperation in various sectors and regional and international issues of mutual concern.
According to Canadian media reports, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang will meet with Trudeau during his visit.
In an interview with Canadian media last week, Chinese Ambassador to Canada Luo Zhaohui also voiced "high expectations" of China-Canada ties. He admitted that the "priorities" and "pace" of the Harper administration were often different with China.
Diplomatic history
"Without question, Trudeau's visit to China will improve China-Canada relations," said Tang Xiaosong, director of the Center for Canadian Studies at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, pointing to Trudeau's family background.
Trudeau's father Pierre Trudeau, who became Canadian prime minister in 1968, pushed for the establishment of diplomatic relations with China in 1970 despite pressures from the Western bloc.
When Xi met with the newly elected Trudeau on November 16 on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Turkey in 2015, he emphasized the senior Trudeau's "extraordinary political vision" in making the historic decision to establish diplomatic ties.
Trudeau's father met with late Chinese leader Mao Zedong and saw a different China than was illustrated by other Westerners. "Such a family atmosphere will definitely affect Trudeau's diplomatic thinking and China policies," Tang told the Global Times.
Trudeau told Canadian media on Friday that he was going to "reset" the relationship between China and Canada, while pointing out that ties had been inconsistent and wavering "from hot to cold" during Harper's administration.
He said he is looking to engage with China to better access China's growing middle-class market for Canadian products, goods and services.
Leaders from China and Canada may also discuss a free trade deal. The previous Conservative government produced studies on the idea but not much progress has been made yet.
China is Canada's second-largest trade partner, after the U.S. The two countries' trade volume was about C$85.8 billion ($65.9 billion) in 2015, according to Canadian government statistics.
Canadian Ambassador to China Guy Saint-Jacques told China Business News on Saturday that the Canadian government is weighing its options on whether to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
Optimism cautioned
Wang Xuedong, deputy dean of Sun Yat-sun University's college of international affairs, said Harper represented conservative forces in Canada. Like many North American politicians, these forces cannot tolerate China's rise, and believe China is a destructive force, he said.
"But Trudeau is young and open-minded. He believes the world is developing and developed countries should not remain bound to an old mind-set," Wang said, adding that Trudeau is generally more inclusive to the outside world, including China.
However, Tang said China should not be too optimistic about Trudeau's visit.
Many Western countries have placed destructive elements between China and Canada in terms of political, economic, military and human rights issues in order to compete for ties with Canada, Tang said.
Also, Canada is hardly willing to drop its political prejudice against China while emphasizing complementary economic cooperation with China, he said. Such sentiment may become more prominent, especially if U.S. policies toward China become unfavorable, he added.
Before leaving Canada, Trudeau told media he would also raise human rights, governance and democracy with Chinese leaders. He may also raise the issue of Canadian citizen Kevin Garratt who was arrested in China for alleged spying.
