China and Canada should promote the normalization of their ties on the road to the establishment of permanent strategic relationship, the Chinese said foreign minister Wang Yi to his Canadian counterpart Melanie Jolie at their meeting in the Chinese capital Beijing on Friday, Reuters reported. The agency cited a statement from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Canadian state broadcaster CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, CBC) called Jolie's three-day visit, which began on July 19, “surprising” an "ice-melting" mission, given the strained bilateral relations. Jolie is the first Canadian foreign minister in seven years to visit China, Reuters noted.
Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs (which is part of the Canadian government's Global Affairs Canada) announced Jolie's visit to Beijing the day before she visited the South Korean capital of Seoul. There, according to her ministry's official press release, she concluded the fourth stage of the Canada-South Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement from September 2022.
Stop "Seoul"
Jolie met in Seoul on Thursday, July 18, with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-jun, and the two discussed the launch of the Strategic Partnership Agreement Action Plan. It was agreed between Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol last May.
The Seoul Agreement Action Plan is a core element of Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy and provides a detailed framework for the full implementation of the Strategic Partnership Agreement's stated goals in five key areas – human rights and values, defense and security, safe economic growth, resilience to climate change, as well as health and culture.
Jolie and Cho also emphasized the importance of this year and next year as Years of Cultural Exchange between Canada and South Korea. The ministers reaffirmed their determination to work together on regional and global issues, including within the framework of the planned high-level dialogues on economic security, foreign and defense policy.
Melanie Jolie and Cho Tae-jun also discussed domestic and international challenges, especially in relation to military cooperation between Russia and North Korea and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The foreign ministers also discussed opportunities for mutual assistance during next year's presidency of the G-7, respectively – of Canada, and the organization of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) – of South Korea. The first diplomats of the two countries had already met this year – in February on the sidelines of the G-20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting to launch the Bilateral High-Level Dialogue on Foreign and Defense Policy.
During her current visit to Seoul, Jolie also visited the headquarters of the International Institute of Immunization (III) – a non-profit organization whose mission is to discover, develop and implement safe, effective and affordable vaccines for global health needs. Canada's foreign minister announced her country's intention to become a member of the International Monetary Fund.
"The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement has taken to a new level the strong and long-lasting relationship that Canada and the Republic of Korea have been building for decades. The ambitious action plan we announced today outlines concrete steps and initiatives that will ensure Canada can reap the benefits of the enormous potential of our relationship with a strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific region – now and for decades to come“, Jolie announced in Seoul.
Following the press release about the visit to Seoul, Canada's foreign ministry also released a statement from Jolie on Thursday, in which she announced that the next day – Friday, July 19, 2024, will visit Beijing at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. It was reported that in addition to bilateral relations, the two will discuss complex topics of local and global nature. An exchange of views is planned on "concrete ways to strengthen the already deepening ties between the peoples of Canada and China,", the statement said.
"As the world faces increasingly complex and interdependent global challenges, Canada is committed to cooperating pragmatically with a wide range of countries to pursue its national interests and uphold its values. As outlined in Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy, we must keep open lines of communication and use diplomacy to address challenges where they need to, while seeking cooperation in areas that matter most to Canadians. I look forward to a productive meeting," Jolie was quoted as saying by Canada's foreign ministry on Thursday.
At the time, the CBC noted that relations between China and Canada were “on the verge of freezing” in the context of decades of mutual mistrust between the two countries.
The background of Ottawa and Beijing
Bilateral relations between Canada and China, established in 1970, have "frozen" in 2018, after the chief financial officer of the Chinese telecommunications giant "Huawei" Meng Wangzhou was arrested in Canada, Reuters notes. Meng, the daughter of the founder of Huawei, was detained in Vancouver after the US issued a warrant for her arrest, accusing her of covering up attempts by companies linked to her company to sell equipment to Iran in violation of US sanctions.< /p>
Washington is motivated by the protection of national security, and "Huawei" denied putting her in danger, Reuters pointed out. Beijing's response, which warned Canada that there would be consequences if Meng was not released, was the arrest of Canadian citizens Michael Spaver and Michael Kovrig on espionage charges.
Meng was released in 2021 after striking a deal with US prosecutors to drop the bank fraud case against her and returned to China. The two Canadians were also released after nearly three years in custody.
In addition, Canada has announced that there is Chinese interference in its politics. Last year, Ottawa launched an investigation into covert operations by Chinese police on its territory, while Beijing has repeatedly denied meddling in Canada's internal affairs. In April, Canadian intelligence concluded that China interfered in the country's 2019 and 2021 elections, prompting Prime Minister Trudeau to establish a commission to investigate foreign interference.
Relations between Canada and China have also become strained along the G-7 lines. Just a day before Jolie announced her visit to Beijing, trade ministers from the Group of Seven, which includes Canada, agreed to step up cooperation to tackle anti-market practices and overcapacity at a meeting in the city of Reggio Calabria. in southern Italy.
There has long been a conflict between the G7 member states and China over Beijing's unfair trade practices. The European Union and the United States believe that China's government subsidies are leading to overcapacity in the domestic market, with excess production being dumped on foreign markets.
The meeting in China
"Relations between China and Canada have undergone difficulties and twists and turns over the years, which is not something China would like to see,” Jolie's current visit to Beijing said her counterpart Wang on Friday, the first day of her three-day visit visit. China's foreign minister said the situation "requires serious consideration by Canada,", Xinhua reported.
The last time Chinese and Canadian leaders met was in Indonesia in 2022, when Chinese President Xi Jinping criticized Prime Minister Trudeau over alleged leaks about a closed-door meeting. Si reprimanded Trudeau in front of cameras during the G-20 summit – an unusual public display of irritation on his part that complicated already strained bilateral relations, Reuters said at the time.
"There is no fundamental conflict of interest between China and Canada" Van told Jolie now, adding that maintaining and developing bilateral relations is in the interest of both countries and peoples. He stressed that issues related to Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang and Hong Kong are China's domestic policy and that Canada should not interfere.
The two sides should view each other in an objective and rational light, treat each other with mutual respect, deal with differences in the spirit of seeking common ground while bridging divergences, and strengthen cooperation on the principles of equality and mutual benefit, Wang Yi also emphasized, quoted by Xinhua.
Noting that next year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Canada Strategic Partnership, China's foreign minister said the two countries should "return to their original intentions, learn lessons from history, sincerely respect their commitment to establish diplomatic relations and give impetus to the normalization of bilateral relations". China and Canada should continue to play their important role as drivers of economic and trade cooperation and explore opportunities for dialogue and partnership in various fields, Wang added.
Jolie, in turn, stated that Canada will adhere to the "One China" Policy. and is ready to actively develop bilateral relations and strengthen cooperation in areas such as trade and economy, tourism, combating climate change and drug control. Van and Jolie also exchanged views on the war in Ukraine and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
She spoke of the long history of friendship between the Canadian and Chinese people, saying that Canada is ready to actively and pragmatically improve and develop relations with China and maintain contact and dialogue, Xinhua said.