Beijing (TDI): Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in China on Wednesday for a state visit, marking a significant step toward improving relations between the two countries after nearly a decade of diplomatic tensions.
Carney, who will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, is the first Canadian leader to undertake a state visit to Beijing in eight years, highlighting a shift toward engagement and dialogue between Ottawa and Beijing.
The two last met during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea in October, an encounter Carney described as a “turning point” in their relationship.
Relations between Canada and China deteriorated in 2018 following the arrest of a senior executive from Chinese tech giant Huawei in Vancouver on a US warrant, and China’s retaliation with the detention of two Canadians on espionage charges.
Those events strained diplomatic ties and hampered cooperation on trade, security and people-to-people exchanges for years.
The visit follows years of rising tensions over allegations of Chinese interference in Canadian elections, ongoing human rights issues affecting the Uyghur minority and restrictions on free speech in Hong Kong, as well as Beijing’s military activities to extend its territorial claims beyond UN-sanctioned maritime zones.
Read More: UAE Commits $50 Billion to Canada Under New Investment Framework
During his visit, Carney is expected to hold talks not only with President Xi but also with Premier Li Qiang and senior Chinese business leaders.
Trade and economic cooperation are set to be at the top of the agenda, as both countries seek ways to expand commercial ties that have stalled in recent years.
Beijing has emphasized that it “attaches high importance” to this state visit, signaling a willingness to deepen diplomatic engagement.
The backdrop to these talks is a recent decline in Canadian exports to China, which fell 10.4 percent in 2025 to USD 41.7 billion, Chinese customs data show, underscoring the economic leverage Beijing holds over Ottawa and the urgency of revitalizing trade links.
This visit presents an opportunity for both countries to reset a relationship that has faced challenges over legal disputes, geopolitical rivalries and global supply chain shifts.
For Ottawa, strengthening ties with Beijing could help diversify Canadian trade, while for Beijing, closer cooperation with Canada can bolster its broader economic and strategic footprint in North America.
