The Heat: China-Canada ties

The Heat

The Heat: China-Canada ties

As a young boy, Justin Trudeau first traveled to China with his father. It was no ordinary trip – His dad was Pierre Trudeau, Canada’s Prime Minister.

The elder Trudeau earned the affection of China’s leaders by being among the first in the West to recognize the People’s Republic in 1970 — nine years before the United States.

More than four decades later much has changed. China has grown into an economic powerhouse and Canada’s relations with Beijing has, in the words of the country’s new Prime Minister – “fallen a little off the priority list.” A recent poll by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
showed that while 46 percent of Canadians support a free trade agreement with China, only 11 percent approve of investment by Chinese state-owned businesses in Canada.

So where do things stand between the two countries following Prime Minister Trudeau’s visit?

Tonight’s panel will take a look at the future of China and Canada’s relations:

  • Jia Wang, Deputy Director of the China Institute at the University of Alberta
  • Laura Dawson, director of the Canada Institute at the Wilson International Center for Scholars here in Washington
  • Sarah Kutulakos, executive director of the Canada China Business Council
  • Tian Wei, anchor of CCTV’s “World Insight”