Xi Jinping calls on Canada to help in battle against graft

President Xi Jinping used talks yesterday with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to call for Canada and China to work together in the fight against corruption.

Xi told Harper on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Beijing that China was expanding its crackdown on graft and the two countries should join forces.

"China and Canada should strengthen cooperation in law enforcement, including tracing assets gained through corrupt means," the China News Service quoted him as saying.

Xi's remarks came after Apec's member economies agreed to team up to pursue economic criminals, seize assets and combat cross-border corruption.

Xi also said that steps should be taken to promote the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Relations between the two countries became tenser over the summer after Ottawa accused Beijing of cyberhacking and mainland police detained a Canadian couple living close to China's border with North Korea. They were detained for suspected theft of military and intelligence information.