Canada, China quietly hold top-level meeting on strained ties
Canada sees China as an important trading partner and in early 2012 Harper went to Beijing to pitch the idea of Canada as a potential oil supplier
Senior officials from Canada and China met quietly in Ottawa last week to discuss relations that have deteriorated so badly that they could threaten Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s planned visit to China in November.
Canada sees China as an important trading partner and in early 2012 Harper went to Beijing to pitch the idea of Canada as a potential oil supplier. The closeness of the ties are in question after two high-profile incidents.
In late July, Canada accused Chinese hackers of being responsible for an attack on a government computer. In early August, China detained a Canadian couple, Kevin Garratt and Julia Dawn Garratt, on suspicion of spying.
A statement posted on the Chinese embassy’s website said a delegation led by assistant foreign minister Zheng Zeguang met a series of senior Canadian officials for talks on Aug. 26.
“The two sides exchanged views on China-Canada relations as well as international and regional issues of common concern,” the statement said.
Canadian officials had not mentioned the meeting to reporters.
The embassy and the office of Foreign Minister John Baird were not immediately available for comment. A spokesman for Harper, who flew to Europe on Tuesday, did not respond to a request for comment.