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OTTAWA — China has now granted Canada access to both of its recently arrested citizens — a move one former Canadian consular official sees as an encouraging sign.

In a statement, Global Affairs Canada said John McCallum, Canada’s ambassador to China, met with entrepreneur Michael Spavor on Sunday.

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On Friday, McCallum saw detainee Michael Kovrig, who is on a leave of absence from Global Affairs.

Both men are being held for allegedly endangering China’s national security.

Global Affairs said Canadian consular officials will continue to provide services to Spavor, Kovrig and their families, but provided no other details.

It is “quite extraordinary” for Canadian officials to gain access to citizens detained in China within a matter of days, said Gar Pardy, a retired director general of the consular affairs bureau of Canada’s foreign ministry.

“The Chinese are notorious for delaying access,” he said in an interview.