China is accelerating efforts to improve relations with Canada, which has been experiencing trade frictions with the United States, by resuming defense talks for the first time in eight years and emphasizing the expansion of economic and trade cooperation.

China's state-run Xinhua News Agency reported that Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met with Andre Desmarais, honorary chairman of the Canada-China Business Council, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the afternoon of the 9th to discuss ways to expand bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

Mentioning the summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney last January, Vice Premier He stated, "Both sides agreed to promote the establishment of a new strategic partnership and provided a new strategic direction for the development of bilateral relations."

He added, "We welcome Canadian companies to share in the opportunities of China's high-quality development," and emphasized, "We hope they will make greater contributions to the development of economic and trade relations between the two countries."

Honorary Chairman Desmarais expressed strong confidence from the Canadian business community in China's economic outlook, stating that they will continue to support the healthy and stable development of bilateral economic and trade relations.

The momentum toward improved relations between China and Canada appears to be expanding into various fields, including economy and security.

Previously, the two countries held the 5th defense ministry working-level meeting in Canada on the 4th, exchanging views on international and regional issues of mutual concern as well as military-to-military relations.

This meeting marks the resumption of defense dialogue for the first time in eight years since April 2018.

Relations between the two countries deteriorated sharply following the 2018 arrest in Canada of Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer and daughter of the founder of Chinese telecom giant Huawei. However, they have been showing signs of improvement, such as resuming high-level exchanges since Prime Minister Mark Carney took office.

The recent move toward rapprochement between China and Canada is drawing attention as it coincides with a significant escalation of tensions between Canada and its traditional ally, the United States.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)