Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday signaled a major reset in relations with China, praising President Xi Jinping’s leadership and saying recent diplomatic progress had laid the groundwork for a broad strategic partnership between the two countries.
Carney made the remarks during meetings in Beijing with senior Chinese officials, including Zhao Leji, chairman of China’s National People’s Congress, as Canada and China seek to rebuild ties after years of strain.
The four-day visit is the first by a Canadian prime minister since 2017, underscoring the scale of Ottawa’s renewed engagement with Beijing. It follows a meeting between Carney and Xi on the sidelines of a summit in South Korea in October, with the two leaders scheduled to meet again on Friday.
According to a spokesperson for Carney’s office, the prime minister said he was “encouraged by the leadership of President Xi Jinping” and noted that improved relations had opened the door to cooperation in areas including energy, security, and people-to-people exchanges.
“The progress we’re seeing creates the conditions for a strategic partnership across multiple fields,” the spokesperson said, summarizing Carney’s remarks.
Canada’s outreach to China has been accelerated by economic pressures at home, particularly after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian goods last year and suggested Canada could one day become the United States’ 51st state.
Diversifying export markets has become a priority for Ottawa, making improved access to China — Canada’s second-largest trading partner — a central focus of Carney’s foreign policy, according to analysts cited by Reuters.
In talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Thursday, Carney said the visit marked the beginning of a “new phase” in bilateral relations. “Our teams have made progress in resolving trade irritants and building platforms for new opportunities,” Carney said, adding that both sides were working to return the relationship “to where it should be.”
Canada–China ties deteriorated sharply in recent years, particularly under former prime minister Justin Trudeau, whose government aligned closely with U.S. efforts to counter China’s economic influence.
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Tensions peaked in 2024 when Canada imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, mirroring similar measures by Washington. Beijing responded in March with tariffs on more than $2.6 billion worth of Canadian agricultural and food products, including canola oil and meal.
Chinese customs data released this week showed imports of Canadian goods fell 10.4% in 2025, highlighting the economic cost of the dispute.
Chinese state media have repeatedly blamed the previous Canadian administration for pursuing policies designed to contain China in coordination with the United States.
“It was difficult to watch how strained things became under the last government,” said Jacob Cooke, CEO of Beijing-based WPIC Marketing + Technologies, a Canadian firm that has worked with brands such as Arcteryx and Lululemon in China.
Diplomatic engagement between Ottawa and Beijing has intensified since Carney took office last year, with senior officials holding regular calls and meetings that paved the way for the current visit.