Article content

Listening to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau outline the priorities of his upcoming visit to China produces a distinct sense of déjà vu.

“What we want is to set a very clear and constructive relationship with China that … looks at the potential economic benefits of better trade relationships, while at the same time ensuring our voice is heard clearly on issues of human rights, labour rights, of democracy, of environmental stewardship,” he said. “There’s a tremendous amount of work to be done.”

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Kelly McParland: Twenty-five years of courting China has Canada shouldering a $46 billion trade deficit Back to video

Yes, indeed. Rewind the tape to November 1994, and a very similar set of aims were set out for a visit by then-prime minister Jean Chrétien and his “Team Canada.”

Chrétien revealed four broad policy ambitions: economic partnership, sustainable development, human rights and good governance. Canada was “positioning itself to build an economic partnership” with Beijing, to the mutual benefit of both. The prime minister was determined to “assist” Beijing in managing its environment “to the benefit of the global environment,” to stress the importance of human rights and UN obligations, to exercise “responsible international behaviour” and raise concerns over “the general lack of political freedom.”