At the invitation of His Excellency Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, is paying his first official visit to China from August 30 to September 6, 2016. Over the course of the visit, Prime Minister Trudeau will take the opportunity to visit Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Hong Kong, while also attending the G20 Leaders’ Summit.

During Prime Minister Trudeau’s visit to Beijing he met with His Excellency, President Xi Jinping of China, and His Excellency, Chairman Zhang Dejiang of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, respectively, while also holding talks with Premier Li Keqiang. Leaders, reflecting on the remarkable progress that has been made since the establishment of diplomatic ties between Canada and China in 1970, reaffirmed their commitment to develop a robust and comprehensive strategic relationship between the two countries.

The two sides had an in-depth, sincere and productive exchange of views on Canada-China relations, and regional, international, and global issues of shared interest. Leaders discussed ways to advance Canada-China relations, including the strengthening of the high-level dialogues and expanding exchanges at all levels. The two sides agreed to act based on principles of mutual respect, equality, and shared benefit, and to deepen mutual understanding and trust. The two sides agreed to expand practical cooperation and exchanges, including on rule of law, and to address constructively differences and sensitive issues. Both sides also agreed to make joint efforts to open a new era in the Canada-China strategic partnership.

The two sides agreed on the importance of enhancing economic growth by promoting the Canada-China economic relationship. On this, both sides agreed to deepen their trade and investment relationship in the areas of energy, clean technology, agriculture, infrastructure, transportation, financial services, as well as innovation, science and technology for mutual benefit.

Recognizing the importance of people-to-people ties, both sides agreed to expand exchanges in education, culture, health, tourism and sports, to promote connections between the two peoples.

The two sides committed to deeper judicial and law enforcement cooperation, and continued military-to-military cooperation. Both sides agreed to maintain dialogue and exchanges on human rights on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on the upcoming G20 Hangzhou Summit and considered opportunities to promote strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive economic growth, promote innovation, create jobs, reinforce the resilience of the global financial system, and build the open world economy. Both agreed to work together to make the Summit a productive and milestone event, and will maintain close coordination and cooperation within the G20 framework on the implementation of the outcomes of the Hangzhou Summit.

On regional and global issues, both sides agreed to strengthen coordination on the provision of global public goods, including seeking to strengthen cooperation on environmental protection and climate change, United Nations peacekeeping and inclusive growth. The two sides agreed to work together to promote peace, stability, and prosperity across the Asia-Pacific region through bilateral and multilateral channels.

The two sides announced a series of important developments and signed relevant agreements. These include the following:

Agreeing to maintain close dialogue and exchanges between leaders of both countries, and announcing the establishment of an annual dialogue between the Prime Minister of Canada and the Premier of China; China’s welcoming of Canada’s decision to apply for membership at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank; Establishing the Canada-China High-Level National Security and Rule of Law Dialogue; Enhancing our efforts to address climate change through the full and effective implementation of the historic Paris Agreement and to work together with international partners to strengthen the global response to climate change; Announcing that quarantine authorities on both sides are actively consulting and researching science-based measures related to the canola trade between Canada and China to support an appropriate solution at an early date. During this transitional period, canola trade between Canada and China can continue under current quarantine conditions (August 2016); Announcing 2018 as the Canada-China Year of Tourism and agreeing to increase cooperation to boost the two-way flow of tourists; Agreeing that China will authorize Canada to open seven additional visa application centres in China; Establishing a working group under the Canada-China Joint Declaration on Clean Technology; Signing the Statement of Cooperation between the Parks Canada Agency and the National Development and Reform Commission of China on the Establishment, Conservation, and Management of National Park Systems; Announcing Canada’s commitment to Phase VI of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development; Expanding judicial cooperation by welcoming the combined efforts of institutions to train judges and pursuing the exchange of legal practitioners and academics; Welcoming further cooperation on labour and employment, including the implementation of the Cooperation Framework in the Field of Industrial Relations and Labour Standards as well as the Joint Canada-China Labour Mediator and Arbitrator Capacity Building Project; Signing a bilateral Film Coproduction Treaty between the Government of Canada and the Government of China; Signing the Programme of Cooperation for the Years 2017 to 2019 under the Cultural Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of China; Enhancing collaboration in support of gender equality and the empowerment of women and children globally; Agreeing to explore ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in support of United Nations peace operations, as well as dialogue and cooperation in the areas of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and military education; Collaborating on global development initiatives, including supporting the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

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