Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao met Maninder Sidhu, Canada's minister of international trade, in Paris, France, on June 3, 2025. Photo: Website of China's Ministry of Commerce.

China-Canada relations face important opportunities for development, as this year marks the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries and the 20th anniversary of their strategic partnership, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said on Tuesday, stressing that China and Canada are each other's important trading partners and the development of bilateral economic and trade relations serve the common interests of both peoples.

Wang made the remarks during a meeting with Maninder Sidhu, Canada's minister of international trade, on the sidelines of a WTO ministerial meeting in Paris, France, on Tuesday. 

The two sides conducted pragmatic and candid discussions on China-Canada economic and trade relations, upholding multilateral trading system, and economic and trade issues of each other's concerns, according to a statement on the website of China's Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday.

It is essential for both sides to resolve economic and trade differences and concerns through dialogue and consultation, deepen pragmatic cooperation, and get bilateral economic and trade relations back on the right track with more open, pragmatic and constructive attitude. And, make bilateral economic and trade cooperation a stabilizer and propeller for China-Canada relations, Wang said.

China remains firmly committed to expanding opening-up, and is actively expanding domestic demand. We welcome foreign enterprises, including those from Canada, to explore opportunities in the Chinese market, Wang said.

As unilateralism and protectionism posing severe challenges to the current international trade order, China and Canada - both important members of WTO - should strengthen multilateral and regional coordination and cooperation, firmly uphold WTO-centered multilateral trading system, and jointly address global challenges, the Chinese minister said.

Sidhu said Canada's new government is ready to engage in constructive dialogue and discussion with China, enhance cooperation with China, and further stabilize and develop bilateral economic and trade relations. 

Canada hopes to continue leveraging the mechanism of Canada-China economic and trade joint committee to play an important role in addressing the two sides' economic and trade issues, and stands ready to collaborate with China in safeguarding the WTO-centered multilateral trading system, Sidhu said.

Global Times