The relationship between Canada and China, by the numbers

OTTAWA-Canada and China have agreed to launch exploratory talks on a possible free-trade agreement, the leaders of both countries said Thursday.

“We have reached many new consensuses in economic and trade area”, Li said on Thursday, as quoted by Xinhua news agency, after signing several bilateral agreements with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The Chinese leader also noted that they have discussed their differences, saying that it is normal for China and Canada, two countries with different national conditions and in different development stages, to differ.

Last month, Canada said it would apply to join the China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, which has been criticized by its neighbor and closest ally, the United States. The poll revealed that 46 percent of Canadians would support the agreement, which is 10 percent more than in 2014.

Earlier China was concerned about the foreign material spreading a crop disease called blackleg, presently changed its standards beginning Sept 1, before agreeing to continue negotiations with Canada leading up to meetings in Ottawa.

Li also recognized Canada’s wheat sales to the country while it was recovering from a starvation in the 1960s.

Li said China is willing to strengthen exchanges with Canada at all levels.

Liberal House Leader Bardish Chagger stands in the House of Commons during Question Period, on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, Friday September 23, 2016.

This may be a more hard task to achieve, as Canada has remained steadfast in its policy of not extraditing criminal suspects to countries who have the death penalty, unless the Canadian side has been given an assurance the suspect will not be put to death.

Canada and China had a mixed relationship over the past decade under the previous Conservative administration.

The controversy over the extradition treaty comes just days after Kevin Garratt, a Canadian held in China for two years and charged with spying, was deported to Canada.

Chiefs of staff for two Liberal cabinet ministers are paying back nearly $55,000 of the generous expenses they claimed for relocating to Ottawa, following the lead of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s top two aides.

Mr Li also met Canadian Governor-General David Johnston at Rideau Hall, the governor-general’s official residence, on Thursday.

Trudeau’s travel to China was just a beginning step. “As China has attached great importance to deepening cooperation with the worldwide community to fight corruption, Trudeau showed his willingness to respond to China’s grave concerns in a bid to change the hard-line stance his predecessor Stephen Harper took against China”, Tang said.

“If we abolish the death penalty, more innocent people will probably lose their lives”.

Francis Pang, who heads heads Toronto-based AKD International Inc. and has has been doing business between China and Canada for more than 40 years, said while Canada and China might not see eye-to-eye on certain issues, that shouldn’t slow economic cooperation between the two countries.