Canadian PM's visit to China re-energizes bilateral ties
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Observers here have rated the recent Canadian prime minister's visit to China as having re-energized stagnated ties with the Asian country.
"I think the results (advanced) the relationship between the two countries," said Barbara MacDougall, former Canadian secretary of state for external affairs, in an interview with Xinhua.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited China last week, and embarked on his first tour of Beijing since he took office in 2006.
Before the prime minister left Ottawa, local media described his visit as the "most important foreign visit," adding that it showed Canadian goodwill despite the country's high duty on Chinese steel imports.
MacDougall said that Canada and China signing a tourism accord during Harper's visit was as surprising as it was important, especially after China has added Canada to its tourist destination list.
The accord is expected to allow Canada to tap into China's lucrative market of large numbers of outbound tourists.
Dr. Gregory Chin, a senior fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation and an assistant professor of political science at York University in Canada, said that Canadians can now expect to see agreements with China on cooperation in green technology, science and the energy sector as well.
MacDougall said Harper's Beijing trip has reset China-Canada relations, and the two governments would have more regular discussions and exchanges following this trip.
She added that the opening of four more Canadian commercial offices in China was "very positive."
The offices will be located in Nanjing, Qingdao, Shenyang and Wuhan. She predicted there would be an increase in business activities between China and Canada, now that Canada has 11 diplomatic and commercial offices in the Asian country, according to information from the Canadian prime minister's office.
"This trip," said Chin, "gave the green lights to both sides for more high-level exchanges and more business agreements."
The scholar said Harper's trip showed Canada's interest in building a stronger, broader relationship with China.
Canada's shift from a critical approach toward a constructive effort in its relations with China has been underway for about a year and half, local observers said.
"Once you visit a place in person, then you'll develop a human connection. Walking on the Great Wall and visiting the Forbidden City can help the prime minister understand China's long political history," Chin said.
"A visit like this in an official capacity can only help," he added.
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