Beijing, January 12 (Xinhua) -- A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on the 12th that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will pay an official visit to China from January 14 to 17 at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
At the regular press conference held that day, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning, in response to a question, introduced the background of the visit and China's expectations. She stated that since last year, thanks to the joint efforts of both sides, China-Canada relations have gradually improved and developed. President Xi Jinping's meeting with Prime Minister Carney in Gyeongju, South Korea, charted the course for a turnaround in bilateral relations and the restoration and restart of exchanges and cooperation in various fields. Prime Minister Carney's visit is the first by a Canadian prime minister to China in eight years, and China attaches great importance to it. President Xi Jinping will meet with Prime Minister Carney, providing new strategic guidance for the further improvement and development of China-Canada relations. Premier Li Qiang and Chairman Zhao Leji will hold talks and meetings with him respectively, exchanging comprehensive and in-depth views on bilateral relations and issues of common concern.
Mao Ning stated that the healthy and stable development of China-Canada relations is in the common interest of both countries and their people, and is also conducive to world peace, stability, development, and prosperity. China hopes to take Prime Minister Carney's visit as an opportunity to strengthen dialogue and communication, enhance political mutual trust, expand pragmatic cooperation, properly handle differences, address each other's concerns, consolidate the momentum of improvement in China-Canada relations, and better benefit the people of both countries. (End)
