Despite the continuing diplomatic feud, China’s embassy in Ottawa says relations with Canada will “eventually be on the right track” and expressed willingness to increase co-operation with Canada’s military.

The softer-toned comments, found in a post on the Chinese-language version of the embassy’s website, stand in contrast to comments Beijing has made regarding the Huawei affair in recent months.

For example, the Chinese foreign ministry had warned Canada in June not to be “naive” to think its allies could put pressure on China regarding the detentions of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.

The two were detained December in what many view as retaliation for the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, who faces extradition to the United States for criminal charges. Since then, bilateral relations have deteriorated. China has also restricted Canadian exports of canola and pork.

However, the post on the website details a rather warm reception held at the embassy on July 30, celebrating the 92nd anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army, the name of China’s military.

The event was attended by the embassy’s charge d’affaires, Chen Mingjian, as well as defence experts and professionals, overseas Chinese, representatives from Chinese-funded institutions, and Canadian MPs and military officials.

READ MORE: Canada still has ‘deep ties’ with China despite tensions: Freeland

Photos of the reception show Ottawa-area Liberal MP Chandra Arya at the event.

Wu Junhui, the military attache at the embassy, gave a speech at the reception. According to the post in Mandarin, he said the “Chinese military is willing to work closely with the Canadian military to enhance understanding and strengthen co-operation in various fields.”

He said China-Canada relations face difficulties and challenges but that relations will eventually normalize.

“As long as the two sides adhere to mutual respect and equality, and value each other’s core interests and major concerns, relations between the two countries will eventually be on the right track, and the relations between the two militaries will remain stable and develop,” Wu said, according to the post.

The post also said attendees expressed optimism about the “long-term development prospects of China-Canada relations.”

China’s former ambassador to Canada, Lu Shaye, made similar comments during his farewell speech in June, saying recent tensions between both countries is only “temporary.”

“Thick mountains could not stop the river from flowing into the sea,” Lu said in Mandarin, as reported by CBC News.

In January, Lu had warned there would be “repercussions” for Canada if Huawei is rejected from involvement in building the 5G network based on national security grounds.

Asked about Canada’s military relationship with China, a Department of National Defence spokesperson said ties are currently focused on enhancing dialogue and co-operation in peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, military education and “occasional interactions” between both militaries.

A defence co-ordination meeting was held in Beijing in April 2018, where the Canadian and Chinese militaries agreed to explore a “modest program of initiatives” focused on those areas.

“Canada’s relationship with China remains a priority, and we continue to engage on defence and security issues. In complex bilateral relationships, there will be difficult moments, but we will continue to look for ways to move forward,” the spokesperson said.

The department was unable to provide a list of Canadian military attendees to the event.

When asked, the Chinese embassy did not to provide a list of attendees. A spokesperson said “military relations constitutes an integral part of China-Canada relations. The two sides maintain military exchanges and co-operation in relevant areas.”

READ MORE: On China to say why it took so long to have ministers meeting, Freeland says

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said last week that the bilateral relationship “continues to be challenging” despite a recent meeting held on the sides of the ASEAN summit in Thailand with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi.

That meeting, where they discussed China’s concerns around Meng’s extradition and Canada’s objection to the detentions of Kovrig and Spavor, was the first held between the two counterparts since relations took a nose dive. Canada has called the detentions “arbitrary.”

Neither nation currently has an ambassador posted to the other’s country.

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