Carney and Xi at a meeting on Friday in Beijing.Image: keystone
01/16/2026, 09:0301/16/2026, 09:03
After years of ice age, China and Canada are seeking to reset their relations amid growing tensions with the United States.
Canada is ready to build a strong and sustainable new strategic partnership with Chinato bring more prosperity to the people of both countries, Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney said at a meeting with state and party leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, according to China’s state news agency Xinhua. The aim is to promote cooperation in the following areas, among other things Trade, energy, agriculture, finance, education and climate change expand and deepen.
Canada-China high-level talks, January 16. Image: keystone
Restarting collaboration
Xi said that both politicians had already met in October last year on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, initiating a new phase of stabilization and improvement in relations. Since then, both sides have discussed intensively the resumption and restart of cooperation. A healthy and stable development of relations corresponds to the common interests of both countries.
Carney’s visit is the first by a Canadian leader to China in eight years. Relations were previously characterized by tensions. The arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou in Canada in 2018 at the instigation of the USA triggered a deep crisis. Beijing responded by detaining two Canadians.
Trump is applying pressure
Since Donald Trump took office again, Canada has come under pressure from the USA. The US President has drawn not only China, but also its neighbor Canada into trade disputes. Observers see this as a background for rapprochement between Beijing and Ottawa.
“In an increasingly divided and uncertain world, we are focused on renewing this relationship and working toward a stronger shared future.”Carney wrote on the X platform after his arrival in China on Thursday. (rbu/sda/dpa)