Trudeau China trip to boost trade, tourism

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is off on his second official visit China Dec 3-7. REUTERS

Trade and tourism are among the major topics that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau intends to raise during his upcoming visit to China next month.

According to a statement released on Sunday by Trudeau's office, he will meet with Chinese government and business leaders, including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, to build on the progress that the two countries have made since his first official visit to China in September 2016.

During the trip from Dec 3 to 7, Trudeau will promote a progressive trade agenda and tourism initiatives that will "create good, middle class jobs and more opportunities for people in both countries," according to the statement. He will also highlight the considerable potential for Canada and China to "strengthen their cooperation on climate action, and lead the global effort to combat climate change."

"A strong relationship with China is essential to creating jobs, strengthening the middle class, and growing the Canadian economy," Trudeau said in the statement. "As we approach the Canada-China Year of Tourism in 2018, I look forward to meeting again with China's leaders to strengthen our relationship and set the stage for even greater trade and investment cooperation."

China is Canada's second-largest trading partner. Canada's merchandise exports to China were almost $21 billion in 2016, an increase of 4 per cent over 2015, with top exports being forest and agricultural products, copper and iron ores, and motor vehicles.

After meeting with Xi and Li in Beijing, Trudeau will visit Guangzhou to meet with Li Xi, the recently appointed party chief of Guangdong province, where Trudeau will deliver the keynote address at a special session of the Fortune Global Forum, and hold several meetings with global business leaders to discuss ways to increase trade and attract international investments to Canada.

Last year in China, Trudeau and Li Keqiang announced that 2018 would be the Canada-China Year of Tourism.

Bardish Chagger, Canada's minister of Small Business and Tourism, said at a recent Canada-China travel forum in Ontario that it's "clear that the Chinese government has placed particular emphasis on the potential tourism offers to strengthen people-to-people ties, which also strengthen business-to-business ties." She said that as part of Canada's New Tourism Vision, "we want to double the number of visitors from China by 2021."

renali@chinadailyusa.com