Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to embark on a trip to China next week, which will mark the first visit by a Canadian prime minister to the country since 2017. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced that the visit from Jan. 13 to 17 will involve discussions between Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping on topics such as trade, energy, agriculture, and international security.
Carney emphasized the need to diversify Canada’s economy during a statement, citing the disruptions in global trade. He expressed the government’s efforts to shift from reliance on a single trade partner to building stronger and more resilient economic partnerships in energy and trade, attracting significant investments, and creating more opportunities for Canadians.
The upcoming visit follows a previous meeting between Carney and Xi on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea last October, where Xi extended an invitation for a formal visit. While in China, Carney is also scheduled to meet with Premier Li Qiang and other officials.
After concluding his visit to China, Carney will travel to Doha on Jan. 18 for a meeting with Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Subsequently, he will attend the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland from Jan. 19 to 21 to engage with business leaders.
The discussions between Carney and Xi are expected to address various trade challenges between Canada and China. These include Canada’s imposition of 100% tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in alignment with the United States, while China responded with tariffs on Canadian canola seed imports, canola oil, meal, peas, and certain pork, fish, and seafood products.
Former diplomat Michael Kovrig described the ongoing trade tensions as part of a broader effort to mend relations between the two countries. He highlighted the significance of diplomatic engagements like the upcoming meeting between Carney and Xi in resolving disputes and fostering better communication channels.
Kovrig cautioned against compromising national security or policy autonomy in pursuit of expanded trade relations with China. He stressed the importance of maintaining a balance between economic benefits and safeguarding Canada’s interests.
The Opposition Conservatives criticized Carney’s frequent international travels, questioning the outcomes for Canadians. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s office criticized the prime minister for his extensive travel, suggesting that Carney should prioritize addressing policies that hinder economic growth and impact Canadians negatively rather than engaging in global socializing.
Poilievre has been vocal about his concerns regarding the World Economic Forum, labeling it as a group of global elites undermining the working class. He proposed that a Conservative government under his leadership would prohibit ministers and officials from attending the annual forum to prevent what he views as detrimental influences on national interests.
The upcoming trip to China and subsequent engagements reflect Canada’s efforts to navigate complex trade relations and diplomatic challenges on the global stage.