Canada-People's Republic of China relations
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| Canada | People's Republic of China |
Canada-People's Republic of China relations have been strong but tense since they were established in 1970.
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[edit] History
Prior to 1970 both countries were opposite sides of a bitter ideological standoff. Canada was united with other Western bloc countries in refusing to recognize the People's Republic of China (PRC) as the legitimate government of China, instead dealing with the rival Republic of China based on Taiwan. Canada and the PRC fought directly against either other in combat during the Korean War.
By 1970, however, China's split with the Soviety Union and Canada's less pro-US stance lead to a rapprochement. By 1971 the countries exchanged ambassadors, and Canadian Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce Jean-Luc Pepin visited China.
In 1973 Pierre Trudeau became the first Canadian prime minister to pay an official visit to the PRC, and in 1984 Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang visited Canada, becoming the first Communist leader to address Parliament.
By 1990 two-way trade exceeded C$3 billion, and in 1992, C$4.6 billion.
In 1994 Canada established its four-pillar policy on China: economic partnership; sustainable development; human rights, good governance and the rule of law; and peace and security. That same year Prime Minister Jean Chrétien visited Beijing and Shanghai with Team Canada: two ministers, nine provincial premiers, the territorial leaders and the head of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Chrétien and Premier Li Peng sign a nuclear co-operation agreement and a letter of intent on six development projects in China.
The following year Premier Li Peng visited Canada to commemorate the 25th anniversary of bilateral relations and attends Canada-China Business Council annual general meeting in Montreal.
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, Minister of International Trade Art Eggleton and Secretary of State (Asia Pacific) Raymond Chan visited Shanghai again in 1996 to attend the annual general meeting of the Canada-China Business Council, and Chrétien, Minister of International Trade Sergio Marchi and Secretary of State (Asia Pacific) Raymond Chan visit Beijing and Lanzhou retuned once more in 1998. In 1999 Premier Zhu Rongji visited Canada.
In 2001 Team Canada visited Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. It was the largest trade mission in Canadian history to that point. Chrétien was accompanied by close to 600 business participants, eight provincial premiers, three territorial leaders, Minister for International Trade Pierre Pettigrew and Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) Rey Pagtakhan. In 2003 Premier Wen Jiabao visited Canada.
President Hu Jintao visited in 2005 Canada met with Prime Minister Paul Martin. The two leaders announced a "strategic partnership" and said they would double trade within five years. Martin said he had discussions about human rights with Hu.
After Stephen Harper and his Conservatives won election in January 2006, the Canadian government cooled its relations with China. Ottawa offended Beijing with a number of moves, including awarding honorary Canadian citizenship to the Dalai Lama, criticizing China's human rights record, accusing it of commercial espionage, long delaying a meeting between foreign ministers and making favourable noises toward Taiwan. The Chinese ambassador to Canada said the two nations can "handle their differences" and build "mutual respect." However, in November 2006, China backed out of meeting between Harper and the Chinese president in a move widely seen as a snub. Beijing later said the meeting will go ahead.
[edit] Trade
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China is Canada's fourth-largest export market, with US$7 billion flowing into the country in 2004. Between 1998 and 2004, exports to China tripled, but Canada is still a small player, representing about 1.3 per cent of China's total imports.
In 2004, Canadian imports of Chinese products totalled C$24.1 billion, making Canada China's second-largest trading partner.
[edit] Migration
In recent decades China has consistently become Canada's largest source of immigration every year. The numbers are even larger when people from Hong Kong are added. Chinese Canadians are now one of Canada's largest ethnic groups.
[edit] See also
- Embassy of China in Ottawa
- Embassy of Canada in Beijing
- List of Ambassadors from the People's Republic of China to Canada
- List of Canadian ambassadors to the People's Republic of China
[edit] Links
- China's foreign ministry site on Canada
- Canadian government site on China
- Xinhua summary of Canada-China relations
- CBC summary of Canada-China relations
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