Chinese President Xi Jinping may visit Canada for the first time in 16 years, coinciding with his trip to the United States in September.
On July 23, Hong Kong's Ming Pao reported that Xi is considering a stop in Canada during his U.S. visit.
The possibility of Xi's visit emerged following a meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand on July 21 in Manila, where the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held.
According to state-run Xinhua News Agency, Wang stated, "China will work with Canada to prepare for the next phase of high-level exchanges and strengthen political mutual trust." Anand also emphasized that "the relationship with China is one of the important bilateral relations for Canada," expressing hope for enhanced high-level exchanges with China.
Ming Pao highlighted Wang's remarks about preparing for the "next phase of high-level exchanges," suggesting this could indicate preparations for Xi's visit to Canada. The report noted that visiting Canada alongside the U.S. could help Xi avoid the impression of prioritizing the U.S. too heavily.
If Xi visits Canada, it would be his first since becoming General Secretary of the Communist Party in late 2012 and the first by a Chinese head of state since Hu Jintao in June 2010.
Relations between China and Canada have deteriorated over trade and security issues in recent years, particularly following the 2018 arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou at Canada's request for extradition to the U.S. This incident significantly cooled relations between the two countries.
In 2024, Canada imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel, and aluminum, prompting China to retaliate with tariffs on Canadian canola, pork, and seafood, escalating tensions further.
However, Prime Minister Carney, who took office in March 2025, has sought to diversify trade in response to uncertainties in U.S. trade policy and has worked to improve relations with China. The two leaders began to mend ties during a meeting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju last October.
Earlier this year, Carney visited China for the first time in nine years, strengthening dialogue and communication channels between the two nations. A joint statement issued at that time included an invitation for Chinese leaders to visit Canada at their convenience, which was welcomed by China. In May, Wang also visited Canada, marking the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister in a decade.
This year, China has reopened its market to Canadian canola and beef imports, while Canada has reduced tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, indicating a shift in trade relations. Wang noted during his meeting with Anand that trade between the two countries increased by 16% in the first half of the year compared to the same period last year, with Canadian exports to China rising by 23.3%, reflecting a positive trend in bilateral relations.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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