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His comments come as Investment Canada reviews the proposed takeover of Aecon by the financial holding arm of China Communications Construction Co. Ltd. (CCCC), one of the largest construction companies in the world. The Liberal government has faced intense pressure to reject the transaction on the grounds that it would provide China access to sensitive intellectual property and other assets.

Some Chinese officials, as well as Aecon CEO John Beck, have pushed back against those claims, saying the company’s operations involve only simple construction and refurbishment contracts. European, U.S., South Korean and other companies have also flooded into the Canadian market in recent years, they say.

Investment Canada has not specified when a decision on the Aecon transaction will be released. Late last month, Aecon moved back the “outside date” on the acquisition to July 13, the final deadline for the deal.

Lu said on Tuesday that China would accept any decision on the proposed takeover, but if rejected the country would also ask for specific reasons as to why the decision was made.

Experts have speculated whether Aecon would have to shed some of its more sensitive assets before the takeover or whether, after the transaction, it would be barred from bidding on certain Canadian projects.

However, according to an internal government document obtained by the Canadian Press on Tuesday, it appears the federal government does not expect the deal would restrict the construction firm’s ability to bid on local developments.