Commerce Minister Wang Wentao met with Canada's Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu, on the side of a WTO informal ministers’ meeting in Paris on June 3. They engaged in practical and candid communication on China-Canada economic and trade relations, the importance of upholding the multilateral trading system and ways to address economic and trade issues of mutual concern.

Wang said this year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Canada and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the strategic partnership between the two countries, presenting important opportunities for the development of bilateral relations. China and Canada are each other's important trading partners. Developing bilateral economic and trade relations is in the common interests of the two peoples. The two sides should resolve their economic and trade differences and concerns through dialogue and consultation, deepen practical cooperation, and bring bilateral economic and trade relations back on track with a more open, pragmatic and constructive approach, so that bilateral economic and trade cooperation can be a stabilizer and booster for bilateral relations. China is committed to opening up to the outside world and actively boosting domestic demand. China welcomes foreign-funded enterprises, including those from Canada, and their efforts to explore the Chinese market.

Wang Wentao said that China and Canada are both important members of the World Trade Organization. As unilateralism and protectionism deal a heavy blow to the international trade order, the two countries should strengthen multilateral and regional coordination and cooperation, firmly safeguard the WTO-centered multilateral trading system, and collectively rise up to global challenges.

Minister Sidhu said the new Canadian government is willing to engage in constructive dialogue and discussions with China, strengthen cooperation, and further stabilize and move forward bilateral economic and trade relations. Canada hopes to continue to rely on the important role of the joint economic and trade commission addressing bilateral economic and trade issues, and is willing to work with China to safeguard the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core.