Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says it is up to countries like Canada to be blunt with China and call out its government for its defensiveness on the world stage, including its treatment of journalists.

Mr. Trudeau made the comments during a question-and-answer session at an economic conference in Toronto Wednesday, one week after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi lashed out at a Canadian reporter for asking a question about the country's human-rights record.

"Canada has a very clear role to play as a country with a long and storied friendship with China to be able to say, 'Look, you need to change the way you speak to journalists. You need to change the defensiveness you have about how you're engaging with the world because it's not doing you any service,'" Mr. Trudeau said at The Canada Summit, hosted by The Economist.

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"It's going to take countries with a good relationship with China to be fairly blunt with China about how it's going to succeed in a world that is filled with both nuance and expectations by citizens that are significantly higher than they've been in the past."

During a press conference with Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion in Ottawa last week, Mr. Wang berated iPolitics reporter Amanda Connolly for her query on human rights and the imprisonment of Canadian missionary Kevin Garratt. Mr. Garratt has been jailed in China for more than a year and was indicted in January on charges of spying for Canada, which critics say are trumped-up.

"I have to say your question is full of prejudice against China and arrogance, and I don't know where that is coming from. It is totally unacceptable," Mr. Wang said, waving his pen at Ms. Connolly. "Have you been to China? Do you know China has lifted more than 600 million people out of poverty and do you know China is now the second-largest economy in the world. … Do you think development is possible for China without protection of human rights?"

Mr. Wang continued to suggest that Ms. Connolly should not ask questions "in such an irresponsible manner," rejecting "groundless and irresponsible allegations." His outburst made international headlines and prompted Mr. Dion and Global Affairs Canada to relay Canada's dissatisfaction with his behaviour to both Mr. Wang and the ambassador of China to Canada.

The Globe and Mail also reported that China had demanded a meeting between Mr. Wang and Mr. Trudeau during the visit, which it received. The unusual diplomatic move demonstrated China's increasingly aggressive posture on the world stage.

Mr. Trudeau said China's behaviour is concerning for those who want to believe in the country.

"You're now creating concerns around the world amongst people who would perhaps be positively inclined towards the opportunities that China represents for economic growth."

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After last week's incident, the Chinese ambassador in Ottawa warned Canadians not to be "blinded" by their differences with China over human rights and let them affect the chance to achieve what he calls a golden era in bilateral relations, including a possible free-trade deal.

"Given the differences between China and Canada in history, culture and political system, it is only natural that the two countries may have different views on human rights," wrote Ambassador Luo Zhaohui in a Globe opinion piece.

"China faces such differences squarely and never sidesteps them."