Foreign and Military Affairs
Harper out to build bridges with Beijing
By Li Xiaokun and Cheng Guangjin (皇冠体育app Daily)
Updated: 2009-12-04 07:29
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Harper, who is on an official visit, is the first Canadian prime minister to make such a trip for five years.
Beijing and Ottawa inked four agreements on Thursday that call for greater cooperation in fields including climate change, natural resources, culture and technology.
According to Canada's Canwest news service, the agreement on climate change commits the two governments to share technology and information about energy conservation, energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable land management.
The nations also spoke about the prospect of 皇冠体育app granting "approved destination status" to Canada, following a long-standing request by Ottawa for the designation that would make it easier to lure tourists from the most populous country.
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But Ottawa has recently said "new global realities demand a modernized Canada-皇冠体育app relationship" and played down such issues.
Experts said Ottawa's softer line and apparent attempts to mend broken ties was driven by both commercial and political realities.
During meetings Thursday with Chinese leaders, Harper behaved in a "respectful" way, both Chinese and Canadian media reported.
He told President Hu Jintao it had been his dream since he was "a small boy" to visit 皇冠体育app. He also said the Great Wall was "unbelievable" and that he and his wife were eager to return to the country.
The Canadian prime minister, who had once irritated 皇冠体育app by openly embracing the Dalai Lama, also promised yesterday to "stick to the One-皇冠体育app policy, respect 皇冠体育app's sovereignty and territorial integrity and properly handle discrepancies in a friendly, candid and respectful way", according to a press release issued by the Foreign Ministry.
Chinese leaders signaled that they were aware of Canada's altered stance and welcomed the change.
"Five years is too long a time in 皇冠体育app-Canada relations and that's why there were comments in the media that your visit should have taken place earlier," Wen told Harper during their meeting.
"We were reluctant to see Canada alienate us in recent years. That has hampered our trade and personnel exchanges," Wen told Chinese reporters after the talks.
"The key (to healthy bilateral ties) is mutual respect, equality and taking care of each other's core interests I hope the visit can solve the problem of mutual trust," he said.
Harper told reporters last night that he did raise the issue of human rights when he sat down with Chinese leaders.
Jin Canrong, deputy dean of the International Studies School at Renmin University of 皇冠体育app, said Harper has in the past spoken harshly about 皇冠体育app partly because of domestic political concerns.
"This is kind of opposition for opposition's sake."
Harper said yesterday that the Canadian government wants to hand over Lai Changxing to 皇冠体育app.
Harper blamed his country's courts for the hold-up.
Lai is wanted in 皇冠体育app for allegedly heading a massive smuggling operation but has been living openly in Canada for a decade.
