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Dominic Barton has been named as Canada’s new ambassador to China. Photo: Reuters

Canada names Dominic Barton as new China envoy amid damaged relations following arrest of Huawei’s Meng Wanzhou

  • Barton is the former global managing director of consulting firm McKinsey & Co
  • Trudeau fired the previous ambassador after he said it would be ‘great’ if the US dropped its extradition request for Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou
Huawei

Canada on Wednesday announced the appointment of a new ambassador to China amid damaged relations following the arrest of a top Chinese tech executive.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Dominic Barton, the former global managing director of consulting firm McKinsey & Co, is the new envoy.

Huawei’s financial chief Meng Wanzhou leaves her family home in Vancouver. Photo: Reuters
Trudeau fired the previous ambassador after he said it would be “great” if the US dropped its extradition request for Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.

The arrest of the daughter of the founder of Huawei at Vancouver’s airport December 1 severely damaged relations between China and Canada.

Trump says the US does not want to discuss Huawei with China

The US wants her extradited to face charges that she committed fraud by misleading banks about Huawei’s business dealings in Iran.

China detained Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor on December 10 in an apparent attempt to pressure Canada to release Meng.

China has stopped importing certain Canadian products like canola and meat, and it also resentenced a convicted Canadian drug smuggler to death after the Meng arrest as part of an apparent campaign of intimidation and retribution against Canada.

Barton worked in Asia for 12 years as well as serving on the board of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and being listed as an adjunct professor at Tsinghua University in Beijing, according to online biographies.

Huawei denies new tech theft claim, accuses US of trying to disrupt company

Rob Malley, president of the non-governmental organisation that Kovrig worked for, the International Crisis Group, called Barton’s appointment very good news.

“I have been in touch with Dominic for some time and know his commitment to human rights and to Michael specifically,” Malley said.

“I am confident he will do everything in his power to end Michael’s detention. With his deep interest in Asia, strong economic background and close ties to the prime minister, he also he will be taken seriously by Chinese authorities.”

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