ALBAWABA- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Beijing to begin a four-day official visit aimed at reviving and redefining Canada–China relations, the first such trip by a Canadian leader since 2017.
Carney is scheduled to hold talks with Li and President Xi Jinping, focusing on trade, energy, agriculture, and security cooperation, as Ottawa seeks to move past years of diplomatic strain and expand economic engagement.
Upon arrival, Carney wrote on X: “Just landed in Beijing. The relationship between Canada and China has created opportunities and prosperity on both sides of the Pacific. We’re ready to build a new partnership — one that builds on the best of our past, and responds to the challenges of today.”
Relations between the two countries have been tense since the 2018 arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Canada and China’s subsequent detention of Canadian citizens, a standoff that effectively froze high-level dialogue for years.
With bilateral trade reaching roughly $100 billion in 2025, Ottawa is now seeking to stabilize ties while addressing disputes over tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and China’s retaliatory measures against Canadian agricultural exports.
Carney’s outreach also reflects broader geopolitical shifts, as Canada looks to reduce overreliance on the United States amid growing uncertainty in U.S. foreign and trade policy.
Under President Donald Trump, Washington has pursued aggressive tariffs, made controversial territorial threats, and taken unilateral actions abroad that have unsettled allies and strained traditional partnerships.
The Beijing visit is seen as a strategic recalibration, signaling Canada’s intent to assert greater autonomy in an increasingly multipolar world. By re-engaging China, Ottawa aims to diversify its economic and diplomatic options as global power balances continue to shift beyond U.S.-centric dominance.
