Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney accepted an invitation to visit China extended by President Xi Jinping, signalling a turning point in the countries' relationship.
The invite came after the two leaders met for 40 minutes on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit on Friday. It was the first meeting between a Canadian prime minister and the Chinese president since 2017.
The countries have had a strained relationship since a diplomatic row in 2018 and have been locked in a trade dispute since 2024.
But as trade tensions between Canada and the US continue to rise, Carney has said the country will turn to strengthening its ties with other major economies.
He has signalled his desire to double Canada's non-US exports in the next decade, in response to President Donald Trump placing punishing tariffs on Canadian goods and some of its critical sectors.
That includes closer trade ties with the economic giants of Asia, Carney said last week.
Speaking briefly to reporters after his meeting with Xi on Friday, Carney said he believes Canada and China have hit a turning point in relations that will yield positive developments for the Canadian economy.
Distance is not the way to solve problems, not the way to serve our people, the prime minister said.
In his own remarks, Xi said China is willing to work with Canada to push China-Canada relations back onto a healthy, stable, and sustainable correct track that benefits both countries.
The two leaders directed their officials to move quickly to resolve outstanding trade issues and irritants, according to a readout released by Carney's office after the meeting.
