Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday invited Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to Beijing, China for the first formal meeting between the leaders of the two countries in 8 years.
“China is willing to work with Canada to put China-Canada relations back on track,” Xi Jinping said on the sidelines of the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, AFP reported.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney accepted President Xi Jinping’s request – saying that in recent years China and Canada “have not been as engaged” – pointing to “constructive and pragmatic dialogue” as the way to solve “current issues of nations”. Carney also cited dialogue as a way “to help build a more sustainable and inclusive international system.”
Canada-China relations
Bilateral relations between Canada and China saw a freeze in 2018 – when China detained two Canadians – Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor – in apparent retaliation for Canada’s arrest of senior telecoms executive Meng Wanzhou on a US extradition warrant.
Although both men were released in 2021, ties between the two nations have not “improved dramatically,” according to reports.
In July 2025, Canada announced an additional 25% tariff on steel imports that contain steel melted and cast in China.
Next month, Beijing announced, it will impose a temporary tariff of 75.8% on Canadian canola imports.
On Friday, Oct. 31, Chinese and Canadian leaders discussed agriculture and agri-food products, including canola, seafood, in their first formal meeting since 2017, Bloomberg reported, citing data released by Carney’s office.
Ahead of the meeting between Xi Jinping and Mark Carney, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand traveled to China to help ease relations — seeking relief from the Asian nation’s tariffs on Canadian canola, pork and seafood, while Carney resisted lowering tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel and aluminum.
