China – Canada Version of China – US SED Established

Belated news but nonetheless a promising development, mimicking the China – US Strategic and Economic Dialogue (SED).  It is imperative that Canada – China hold regular talks on important diplomatic and economic/financial matters instead of letting relations be periodically hijacked by ‘human rights’, cyber-espionage, diplomatic and trade related issues and disputes.

 

On November 8, 2014, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Premier Li Keqiang announced the establishment of the Foreign Affairs Ministers Dialogue and the China-Canada Economic and Financial Strategic Dialogue. The dialogues represent a significant step forward in the relationship between Canada and China with regard to foreign affairs and economic matters, which will deepen bilateral trade and investment ties between the two countries, which is a priority under the Global Markets Action Plan.

The proposed dialogues will be held on a rotating basis in each of the two countries. The purpose of these dialogues will be to enhance bilateral communication and cooperation in the fields of foreign affairs, macroeconomic policy, trade, investment, finance, energy, agriculture, global economic governance and others; strengthen coordination on strategic, long-term and overarching bilateral and global economic issues; advance healthy and stable development of Canada-China economic relations; and promote economic recovery and growth of the two countries and the world.

The first Canada-China Foreign Affairs Ministers Dialogue and the Economic and Financial Strategic Dialogue will take place in 2015.

– Office of the Prime Minister backgrounder