Chinese Premier expects stronger trade with Canada

BEIJING - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Tuesday that China is willing to work together with Canada to expand bilateral trade and investment.

The two countries should also strengthen cooperation on tackling climate change and cooperate in new areas such as clean energy to create new growth points in the relationship, Li said over phone with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The Chinese premier hoped that Canada would relax the restrictions on high-tech exports to China, believing this would be helpful to a balanced growth of bilateral trade.

He also said that relations between China and Canada have reached a new level since the both he and Trudeau visited each other's countries and held their first annual dialogue last year.

China and Canada, as important economies in the Asia-Pacific region, should strengthen high-level communications and expand pragmatic cooperation, which will not only help further promote bilateral ties but also will help maintain world peace, regional stability as well as free trade, he added.

Trudeau said Canada attaches great importance to promoting friendly cooperation with China and he is delighted at the progress made since the visits last year.

The launch of the Canada-China Economic and Financial Strategic Dialogue and exploratory discussions about setting up a free trade area signify that bilateral cooperation is moving on the right track, Trudeau said.

Canada will work with China to deepen bilateral trade and investment in a variety of areas to create more win-win opportunities, Trudeau said.

The two leaders also exchanged in-depth views on international and regional issues of common concern.