Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is greeted by Chinese President Xi Jinping as they take part in a bi-lateral meeting at the G20 Summit in Antalya, Turkey on Monday, November 16, 2015. Photograph by: Sean Kilpatrick , Vancouver Sun

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government is undertaking a major internal review of Canada’s relationship with China, cautiously considering steps that include launching free trade negotiations and helping up to 100,000 Canadian students study there.

The idea of using a “youth engagement” strategy to boost Canada-China relations in the post-Stephen Harper era was suggested in one of many submissions from experts and business groups advising the government during its major — though largely hush-hush — review of the relationship.

China-watchers say an increase in people-to-people exchanges is being touted by China-watchers as a way to reverse negative polling trends reflecting Canadian attitudes about China, caused by everything from human rights abuses to Chinese investment in Alberta’s oilpatch and Vancouver’s real estate market.

“It’s great that we have 120,000 Chinese kids studying in Canada,” Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland told the Canada-China Business Council in a speech last week.

She then floated the idea that Canada — perhaps with the help of corporate sponsorships — try to match the ambition of Barack Obama’s 100,000 Strong Foundation, a non-profit launched in 2012 to fulfil the president’s 2009 pledge to increase the number of American students in China by that number.

“Shouldn’t we have — OK, maybe 100,000 is too much but maybe not. Let’s have 100,000 Canadian kids going and studying in China. Those human connections are essential to build a real and robust and lasting relationship.”

Freeland, in addition to that bold suggestion, also indicated that the federal government is likely to join the China-initiated US$100-billion Asian Infrastructure Development Bank.

The Harper government allied itself with the U.S. and Japan in declining to join the institution, which in December opened its vault to Asian countries looking for affordable loans to build critically-needed infrastructure. China’s founding partners include the United Kingdom, Germany, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

“I’m not going to make any announcements about that, but … we were very clear (in opposition) that we felt Canada failing to join the Asian Infrastructure Bank as a founding member was a lost opportunity of the previous government.”

Freeland, however, was cautious while speaking to an audience that, in addition to members of the business and academic communities, included a senior Chinese diplomat.

“A trade agreement in theory would be a great thing, but we need also to have a real community behind it,” she said.

Her tone reflects the government’s cautious approach as it seeks ways to ensure that not only the business community but ordinary Canadians will accept closer ties.

Trudeau barely mentioned China during the election campaign, didn’t include it in his mandate letter to Global Affairs Minister Stephane Dion, and ignored the world’s emerging superpower in the government’s December Throne Speech.

The official government line review suggests Ottawa wants to play down the significance of its re-think on Canadian foreign policy in China after nine often-rocky years between the two countries under Stephen Harper’s Conservatives.

The government has been under enormous pressure from corporate Canada and academics to raise Canada’s game in China, especially after Australia’s recent completion of a free trade deal with its largest trading partner.