Canada’s Carney hails ‘strategic partnership’ in talks with China’s Xi

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is seeking to reset ties with Beijing amid global tensions and US tariffs.Published On 16 Jan 2026Faced with new global challenges, the leaders of China and Canada have pledged to improve relations between their two nations after years of acrimony.Xi Jinping told visiting Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday that he is willing to continue working to improve ties, noting that talks have been under way on restoring and restarting cooperation since the two held an initial meeting in October on the sidelines of a regional economic conference in South Korea.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4China’s trade surplus hits new heights in 2025 despite US tariff warlist 2 of 4Chinese app ‘Are You Dead?’ to change name after surge in popularitylist 3 of 4Japan, Philippines sign new defence pacts amid surging China tensionslist 4 of 4Fifteen former NCAA players charged in US-China basketball rigging caseend of list“It can be said that our meeting last year opened a new chapter in turning China–Canada relations towards improvement,” China’s top leader said.Carney, the first Canadian prime minister to visit China in eight years, said better relations would help improve a global governance system that he described as “under great strain”.Addressing Xi in the Great Hall of the People, Carney said that “together we can build on the best of what this relationship has been in the past to create a new one adapted to new global realities”.Engagement and cooperation would be “the foundation of our new strategic partnership”, he said.“Agriculture, energy, finance, that’s where we can make the most immediate progress.”The reference to new realities reflects in large part the so-called “America First” approach of United States President Donald Trump.The tariffs he has imposed have hit both the Canadian and Chinese economies. Carney, who has met with several leading Chinese companies in Beijing, said ahead of his trip that his government is focused on building an economy less reliant on the US at what he called “a time of global trade disruption”.No announcement was made on tariffs between China and Canada, which is a sticking point in the relationship.