Xi, Carney Meet at APEC Summit in Bid to Thaw Canada-China Relations

2 days ago7 min read

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney held their first formal meeting since 2017 on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, in a significant effort to mend bilateral ties. The relationship had been severely strained in recent years, primarily due to the detention of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Canada and China's subsequent arrest of two Canadian citizens, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.President Xi described the current state of relations as showing a 'trend of recovery,' signaling a cautious optimism for improved diplomacy. The meeting, held at an economic forum, provided a neutral venue to address political grievances and seek a pragmatic path forward.Both nations face economic pressures to stabilize the relationship; Canada seeks to protect its agricultural exports and trade with its second-largest partner, while China aims to ease diplomatic isolation and build bridges with Western nations. However, significant challenges remain, including hardened Canadian public opinion toward Beijing and ongoing geopolitical tensions.The leaders agreed to revive exchanges and cooperation, which may include ministerial dialogues and collaboration on issues like climate change. The success of this diplomatic effort will be measured by sustained communication and tangible progress in managing differences while pursuing mutual interests.

#China

#Canada

#Xi Jinping

#Mark Carney

#APEC summit

#diplomatic talks

#bilateral relations

#featured