Canadian PM Carney Visits China to Boost Trade Ties

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will visit China from January 13 to 17, marking the first trip by a Canadian leader to the country in nearly eight years, as his government seeks to expand trade ties and lessen economic dependence on the United States.

The five-day itinerary includes meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss trade, energy, agriculture and international security, according to Carney's office. The visit stems from an invitation extended by Xi during their October meeting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea. Carney described the trip as part of a strategy to build economic resilience. "We're forging new partnerships around the world to transform our economy from one that has been reliant on a single trade partner, to one that is stronger and more resilient to global shock," he said in a statement Wednesday.

Canada's trade with the United States dominates its economy, accounting for more than 70 percent of total exports, including 97 percent of its oil shipments in 2023, based on official data. Bilateral trade with China, its second-largest partner, reached about 118 billion Canadian dollars last year, with Canadian exports...