Foreign minister urges improved ties between China and Canada

Beijing said on Friday that China and Canada should improve bilateral ties, with an attitude of mutual respect and by viewing each other with objective and rational perceptions.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks while meeting his Canadian counterpart, Melanie Joly, in Beijing during Joly's visit to China.

Wang also called on the two countries to handle disputes in the spirit of shelving differences while seeking common ground, and he said they should bolster equal and mutually beneficial cooperation, so as to promote the sound and steady development of bilateral relations.

Ties between the two countries have encountered difficulties in recent years, as well as twists and turns, Wang said, noting it was not what China wanted to see and that it needed serious reflection from Canada.

Noting that China and Canada have no fundamental conflicts of interests, Wang said the two countries, with important influences in the Asia-Pacific region, have extensive common interests and complementary advantages.

He said it is in the interest of both countries and their two peoples to uphold and develop bilateral ties.

China is building a high-level socialist market economy that will bring new development opportunities to countries across the globe, Wang added.

He also underlined the need for both sides to continue to leverage the important role of economic and trade cooperation, and to explore carrying out dialogue and cooperation in various fields.

Wang also called on Canada to take concrete action to facilitate personnel exchanges between the two sides, and to maintain the bond of people-to-people and cultural exchanges to improve the public opinion of the two countries.

Wang stated China's position on the Taiwan question and issues related to Xizang, Xinjiang, and Hong Kong, saying they are China's internal affairs that brook no external interference.

Joly said Ottawa will improve and develop its China relations in a positive and practical way, and maintain engagement and dialogue with Beijing.

Canada stands ready to strengthen cooperation with China in areas including trade, the economy, and climate change, to achieve mutually beneficial development, she said. And Canada will continue to abide by the one-China policy, she added.

The two foreign ministers also exchanged ideas during the talks on regional and international issues of mutual concern.