Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chinese President Xi Jinping shared only a brief hello Thursday at the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering in San Francisco.
Because their country names start with the same letter, China and Canada often rub shoulders when leaders gather for summit photos.
The presidents and prime ministers of countries participating in the 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit pose for a group photo in San Francisco.
United States President Joe Biden spent four hours with his Chinese counterpart on Wednesday to try to ease ongoing tensions. It remains to be seen whether Mr. Trudeau to follow President Biden’s lead.
I think it’s a good thing for the United States that the two presidents are having their discussion. I think it’s good for the world.
The two leaders agreed to continue military communication and reached a preliminary agreement to limit the flow of fentanyl to the United States.
Relations between the United States and China were tested in 2022 when Nancy Pelosi, then Speaker of the House of Representatives, visited Taiwan. But things turned very cold last summer after a Chinese spy balloon was found drifting in North American airspace.
Relations between Canada and China haven’t exactly been warm in recent years either.
Beijing has detained Canadian citizens Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig for nearly three years, a move widely seen as retaliation for Canada’s jailing of Meng Wanzhou, head of Chinese multinational Huawei, at the same time.
China has imposed a multi-year ban on Canadian beef and canola imports, citing concerns about unspecified pests.
And a year after the Canadian government called China a global disruptive force and found Beijing responsible for attempts at foreign interference, the Chinese government left Canada behind by easing travel restrictions. in the group.
In September, Ottawa appointed Marie-Josée Hogue, a Puisne Justice of the Quebec Court of Appeal, to lead a public inquiry into foreign interference in federal electoral processes and democratic institutions, with mandate targeting China, Russia and other foreign states or not. – state actors.
Earlier this year, conservative Congressman Michael Chong testified before a US congressional committee about his experiences as a target of Chinese pressure and disinformation campaigns.
