On July 17th, H.E. Wang Di, Chinese Ambassador to Canada, published a byline article titled “China-Canada relations have delivered real benefits to our two nations“, in which he highlighted our historical responsibility to establish a China-Canada relationship that’s beaming with vitality and expressed his confidence about the future of our bilateral ties.
It has been nearly two months since my arrival in Canada on May 24. I was welcomed not only by a pleasant warm Ottawa summer, but also the enthusiasm of Canadian friends from different communities, and their eager aspirations for China-Canada relations.I am greatly encouraged and have gained more confidence about the future of China-Canada relations.
My confidence stems from the traditional friendship between China and Canada. As early as the 19th century, more than 10,000 Chinese construction workers travelled to Canada to help build the Canadian Pacific Railway, starting the friendly exchanges between our two peoples. In the early 1960s, despite the western embargo against China, Canada exported wheat to my nation, a most needed helping hand for China at that time. In 1970, our two countries officially established diplomatic relations. In September 2005, both sides agreed to upgrade our relations to a strategic partnership. With our joint efforts, China-Canada relations have come a long way, and delivered real benefits to the people of both countries.
My confidence further stems from the way our two countries complement each other to meet the development needs of both sides. China has been Canada’s second biggest trading partner for many years, and was the only major export market of Canada that registered positive growth in 2023. Canadian brands such as Lululemon, Canada Goose, and Arc’teryx are highly popular in China. The wonder of the Canadian Prairies and mysterious aurora hold gravitational attraction for Chinese tourists. In the meantime, Canadian friends are also welcome to visit China where they can experience a “city walk” that brings ancient and modern elements together, and presents the development of China in front of their eyes.
My confidence also stems from our similar philosophies for tackling common challenges. On June 26, when I presented my letter of credence to Governor General Mary Simon, she highlighted that in the face of an intricate and turbulent world landscape, the future of all countries is intertwined, so we must build bridges of dialogue, enhance exchanges and mutual learning, and join hands to meet global challenges such as climate change. This strongly echoes with the vision proposed by President Xi Jinping of building a community with a shared future for mankind. It fully shows that China and Canada share the same understanding when it comes to tackle global challenges.
In 2022, China and Canada successfully held the UN Biodiversity Conference—COP15—together, which culminated in the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a shining example of China-Canada co-operation. Past progress has shown that China-Canada co-operation not only benefits the two countries, but also the whole world by bringing more certainty and positive energy.
More than 50 years ago, it was with enormous political courage and great vision that the statesmen of our two countries established diplomatic ties which greatly benefited our people. Now, China-Canada relations have come to a crucial moment again. We must step up to our historical responsibilities, live up to the expectations of our two peoples, and pass on to our children and grandchildren a China-Canada relationship that’s beaming with vitality.
Let us draw strength and wisdom from history, and uphold the spirit of mutual respect, seeking common ground while reserving differences, and win-win co-operation to jointly promote the healthy and stable development of the China-Canada strategic partnership at all times.
