The Chinese are looking for a supporter in Canada. “We want to defend the global trade order together”

China is ready to resume dialogue and exchange at all levels with Canada, as well as to jointly defend multilateralism and the international trade order, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday during a meeting with the head of Canadian diplomacy Anita Anand in Beijing.

“China and Canada have broad common interests and a lot of scope for cooperation. We can become partners in mutual development based on mutual respect,” said Wang, quoted in a note from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He emphasized that both sides should strengthen communication, eliminate distortions and rebuild mutual trust.

The meeting took place on the 55th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries. Wang Yi noted that the Chinese side counts on Canada's compliance with the “one China” principle, which will constitute the political basis of relations.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both sides expressed their willingness to tighten cooperation in areas such as trade, security, global governance and cultural exchange. Canada reaffirmed its commitment to multilateralism and support for free trade, declaring its readiness to closely coordinate with China within multilateral organizations.

China-Canada relations have been tense and marked by diplomatic crises in recent years. The turning point was the arrest of Huawei's CFO, Meng Wanzhou, in 2018 at the request of the US, followed by the retaliatory imprisonment of two Canadians – Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig – in China. Although both were later released, tensions rose over Ottawa's accusations of Chinese interference in Canadian affairs and elections. Ottawa has consistently expressed concern about China's human rights abuses.

Recently, the trade war has also begun to escalate. In August this year Beijing announced preliminary anti-dumping tariffs on Canadian canola imports, a year after Canada announced it would impose a 100 percent tariff on imports of Chinese electric vehicles.

From Beijing Krzysztof Pawliszak (PAP)

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