Beijing’s Great Hall of the People hosted a pivotal encounter Friday as President Xi Jinping engaged with Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney, the first such summit in eight long years. Hopes rise for revitalized ties strained by years of acrimony.
Carney, on his trailblazing China trip, highlighted collaborative potentials to craft a resilient partnership amid shifting global tides—chiefly to counterbalance US economic dominance, now thornier with Trump’s tariff hikes.
Flashback to 2018: Meng Wanzhou’s Canadian custody ignited fury, met with Chinese arrests of Canadian duo on spying claims. Tit-for-tat tariffs and election meddling charges entrenched hostility.
Xi reflected positively on their APEC prelude, declaring it a ‘new chapter’ for ties. He welcomed the momentum in recent cooperation talks, underscoring benefits for bilateral stability and prosperity.
Carney’s packed schedule encompassed Premier Li Qiang discussions and trade forums with executives. Both capitals express eagerness to realign. This diplomatic defrost could reshape Canada’s trade landscape, fostering diversification and injecting stability into unpredictable international relations.