China Ready to Forgive Canada's Cold Shoulder

Source: The Canadian Press

Posted: 12/04/09 9:09AM

Filed Under: Canada

BEIJING - The diplomatic scolding behind them, China's leaders are sending signals it now considers perceived slights by Canada a thing of the past with the hope the two countries can re-establish mutual trust.

In a rebuke on Thursday that caught Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Canadian officials off guard, a blunt-speaking Premier Wen Jiabao told Harper that he's felt a cold shoulder from Canada since the Conservative government was elected in 2006.

Harper was chided for not having visited China.

"Five years is too long a time for China-Canada relations and that's why there were comments in the media that your visit should have taken place earlier," the premier said.

The Chinese leadership had used the official government newspapers here to deliver its message of displeasure as Harper arrived Wednesday.

It used them again Friday prior to Harper's next key meeting with Communist Party head Wu Bangguo.

In a rare interview with Chinese reporters, Wen blamed the Harper government for damaging what he said had been a close and mutually beneficial relationship.

Part of the interview was carried in the English-language China Daily.

"We are reluctant to see Canada alienate us in recent years," Wen was quoted as saying by the Daily. "That has hampered our trade and personal exchanges.

"The key is mutual respect, equality and taking care of each other's core interests. I hope the visit can solve the problem of mutual trust."

Among the reasons the paper listed as having offended China was Harper's embrace of the Dalai Lama and his refusal to attend the Beijing Olympic. The latter were viewed as a watermark event in this country's ascension in global economic and diplomatic importance.

However, Wen says the Chinese government is ready to turn the page and the newspaper noted that Harper was making headway in trying to "warm up cool to icy ties."

Still, China cancelled Harper's planned meeting with Shanghai mayor Hang Zheng on Saturday, letting the Canadian delegation know that Hang was being called to Beijing.

It was not clear whether domestic affairs trumped international ones, or whether this was another reminder to Canada that relations still need work.

Canadian officials said privately they had not seen Wen's rebuke coming, boasting that even if the leadership is angry with Harper, they are coming across on the things that matter.

They point out that China has finally granted Canada "approved destination status," which should boost the Canadian tourism industry. That is something that previous Liberal governments, more friendly to China, had failed to secure.

They also point out that under Harper, bilateral trade between the two countries has grown faster than with any other major country, and exports to China continued to grow by 3.3 per cent in the first six months of 2009 despite the global recession.

A 14-point communique released Thursday night is full of promises of mutual co-operation and respect.

Harper has raised the issue of human rights, but behind closed doors and in his own word "respectively."

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