China on Friday requested steps to improve bilateral ties with Canada, saying that there were no conflicts of deep interests, after an increase in commercial tensions with many of the Western business partners of Beijing this year.
China is willing to work with Canada to put the ties on a healthy and stable path and find solutions to address others’ concerns through the improved dialogue, Prime Minister Li Qiang told the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in a phone call on Friday, according to the state agency Xinhua.
“There is no fundamental conflict between the two countries,” Li said.
LI conversations with Carney followed a very anticipated phone call between the president of the United States, Donald Trump, and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, which Trump said he led to “a very positive conclusion” and offered the hope that the commercial war between the two largest economies in the world could begin to decrease.
As the effects of commercial frictions begin to reach the already soft Chinese economy, Beijing has intensified the commitment to other countries to relieve friction despite previous reprisals.
In March, Beijing announced tariffs on more than $ 2.6 billion in Canadian agricultural and food products in retaliation for Ottawa taxes on Chinese electric vehicles and steel and aluminum products introduced in October.
Beijing has also launched an anti -dumping investigation into Canola Canadian that will end in September.
The Canola, also known as Colza, was one of Canada’s main exports to China, the world number 1 agricultural importer, before Beijing’s investigation.
“The two governments should listen and respond to people’s calls and make more to deepen friendly cooperation and improve mutual understanding and trust,” Li told Carney.
China is the second largest commercial partner in Canada, far from the United States. Canada exported goods of $ 47 billion to the second largest economy in the world in 2024, according to Chinese customs data.
Beijing is also willing to work with Canada to safeguard multilateralism and free trade, Li added.
The Olive Branch of Beijing to Ottawa also advances to a group of seven leaders in Canada in mid -June.
At the G7 summit in Italy last year, G7 leaders criticized China, saying that they would take measures to protect their economies from China’s “unfair” practices.
