Canadian PM begins 4-day visit to China

• Source: Global Times
• [02:52 December 02 2009]
• Comments

Harper is to travel to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong to meet with President Hu Jintao, National People's Congress Chairman Wu Bangguo, Premier Wen Jiabao, the mayor of Shanghai, Chinese business leaders, and Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang.

Trade and investment, energy and environment, and public health top the agenda, said senior officials. North Korea, Afghanistan, the G20 and upcoming climate talks in Copenhagen are also likely to be discussed.

"China's huge domestic market and its role as one of the world's largest exporting nations will be an essential element of the global recovery," Soudas commented.

"Canada has a tremendous amount to offer China: resources that China needs for its growth, technology, education and connectivity to the North American market," he said.

But despite the initiatives taken by Canada, Zhou Rongyao, director of Canadian studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that relations between China and Canada are not as indispensable as those between the United States and the EU. "So I won't expect too many outcomes from Harper's visit, although at last he comes to China."

Agencies contributed to this story