OTTAWA — Canada and China will begin talks that may lead to a free-trade agreement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday.

The announcement was the latest of Mr. Trudeau’s sometimes contentious efforts to develop stronger ties with China. It came during a news conference with Premier Li Keqiang of China, who is on a four-day visit. This month, Mr. Trudeau’s government said with little fanfare that it was negotiating an extradition treaty with China, a country with a dubious human rights record and sometimes questionable legal processes.

No details were offered about what form any trade deal might take, but Mr. Trudeau said that he hoped to double trade with China by 2025.

In Beijing in August, Mr. Li made a similar announcement. But Canadian officials later said that statement was premature, citing differences between the countries on labor standards, environmental protections and the role of Chinese state-owned firms.