Canadian PM to make official visit to China

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will make a four-day official visit to China starting on Wednesday, making him the first Canadian head of government to visit the country in eight years.

President Xi Jinping will meet with Carney to "offer new strategic guidance for further improving and developing China-Canada relations", the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Monday.

Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, will hold separate talks with Carney to conduct comprehensive and in-depth exchanges on bilateral relations and issues of common concern, according to the ministry.

"China looks to take this visit as an opportunity to strengthen dialogue and communication, enhance political mutual trust and expand pragmatic cooperation," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said in Beijing.

China hopes to properly manage differences, address each other's concerns and consolidate the momentum of improvement in China-Canada relations to deliver greater benefits to the two peoples, she said.

"The sound and stable development of China-Canada relations serves the common interests of both countries and their peoples, and also contributes to world peace, stability, development and prosperity," she added.

Carney, who took office in March last year, succeeded former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau. The latter made an official visit to China in December 2017.

Chinese officials and scholars noted that since last year, China-Canada ties have gradually improved and developed through joint efforts.