Canadian Minister of International Trade Chrystia Freeland speaks at a luncheon organized by the Canada China Business Council on March 30 in Toronto. This was the minister's first public statement on the issue of Canada's bilateral trade relationship with China, making her the first federal cabinet minister to discuss the government's China agenda. (NA LI / CHINA DAILY)

There are opportunities there, but opportunities can be lost.

That's how Canadian Minister of International Trade Chrystia Freeland summed up Canada's relationship with China.

Freeland made the remarks at a luncheon organized by the Canada China Business Council on March 30 in Toronto.

"The most important economic development in the 21 century is the rising of Asia, especially the rising of China," said Freeland, who mentioned that her three children were studying Chinese. "We should think about the challenge and opportunity that the rise of China presents to Canada and the West."

Aside from the strong human connections between Canada and China, Canada has a meaningful economic relationship with China as well, she said.

China is currently Canada's second-largest trading partner. It provides the largest group of foreign students in Canada (120,000 Chinese students studied in Canada last year).

Chinese are also the third-largest tourist group coming to Canada. And the RMB trading hub recently launched in Toronto has boosted Canada's exports to China.

"We appreciated these very much," she said.

"I think the big challenge of the 21 century is to create a positive world order in which China wishes to play, and Canada can play a central role in the project through our relationship with China," she said.

Freeland affirmed that Canada's approach to China is consequential, careful and thoughtful, and aimed at building the relationship over the long term.

"Let's take the time to have a very clear understanding of what our mutual interests are," she said.

Freeland also mentioned that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to attend the G20 summit hosted by China in Hangzhou this September.

In 1973, the PM's father Pierre Trudeau made the first official visit by a Canadian prime minister to China.

Chinese Consul General in Toronto Xue Bing also spoke at the luncheon. He encouraged Canada to join the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank and take part in the Belt and Road Initiative. He stressed that the two governments should initiate free trade agreement negotiations.

"I hope China and Canada can seize the opportunities, and jointly push our bilateral relationship to a new high," said Xue, "and we are looking forward to Prime Minister Trudeau's attendance at the G20 Summit in Hangzhou."

renali@chinadailyusa.com