If there are hard feelings between China and Canada over the diplomatic dispute that afflicted the countries for three years, Cong Peiwu didn’t reveal it.
“There is great potential for practical co-operation between our two countries,” Cong, China’s ambassador to Canada, said during a question-and-answer session organized by the Canada West Foundation Jan. 21.
“China and Canada are natural partners.”
That was the common wisdom before Dec. 1, 2018. China relies upon imported commodities like those Canada produces and Canada needs export and non-American markets for its commodities and services.
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Trade issues existed long before U.S. president Donald Trump and his on-again, off-again tariffs came along, said panelists at a policy summit last month.
There was also a long history of friendly relations between China and Canada until the day Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Vancouver on an extradition request from the United States and China erupted in fury.
Two Canadians were imprisoned and Canadian canola and pork shipments were quickly hit with partial (informal) bans. Billions of dollars of agricultural trade were affected.
Suddenly, the best potential market for expanding Canadian exports and reducing reliance upon the U.S. evaporated. As the dispute dragged on, Canadian exports mostly recovered, with the import restrictions functioning as costly complications rather than bans. China is still an important and essential market for two of Canada’s most important agricultural exports. For other commodities that were never hit by the bans, China has remained a top market.
But the fury from China and growing Canadian dislike of the giant nation’s government has made future relations look fraught and hopes for relying upon China as a hedge against the U.S. appears to be a dodgy idea. Mutual dislike has come to dominate popular opinion.
The ill will was made worse by the “wolf warrior” statements of some Chinese diplomats and Chinese state media, which added belligerence and insult to the already strained relationship. Informal campaigns were conducted against Canadian businesses operating in China. Canada provoked Chinese ire by speaking out on human rights issues, criticizing Chinese actions in Hong Kong, and joining in “freedom of navigation” voyages through the South China Sea, which Beijing claims as its territory.
Cong showed no ill will in his discussion with the Canada West Foundation’s Gary Mar, instead being scrupulously diplomatic (in the traditional sense) and offering many reasons to believe China and Canada can return to positive and constructive relations that provide “mutual benefit and win-win results.”
Cong said China is committed to free trade and multilateralism. It is opening its markets further for foreign companies and investment. It is happy with growing imports of commodities.
Cong said China is sincere in its hopes to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and to respect World Trade Organization rules.
“Both demonstrate China’s commitment to open up even wider to the outside,” said Cong.
On canola, Cong said, “I think we can find a way to resolve all the remaining issues” in the present phytosanitary dispute that is part of the restrictive measures crimping Canadian canola exports to China.
He noted Canada’s large exports of wheat, barley, beans and pork to China and encouraged more.
“It is hoped the trend will continue,” said Cong.
It’s easy to be skeptical of these viewpoints. After what happened after the Meng arrest, why would Canadian exporters ever trust the Chinese market again?
But the positive, non-provocative approach of Cong was a relief from the hostility that seemed to be developing in the relationship.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping offered similar friendly and constructive comments about the global situation earlier in the week during an address at the World Economic Forum.
Again, skepticism is certainly justified in terms of whether China will actually act like a friendly, rules-following partner.
But after the negativity of the past three years, which jeopardized Chinese markets that Canadian farmers gained from, it was a relief to hear friendly words from China’s representative.
Canada-China relations won’t ever go back to the way they were pre-Dec. 1, 2018, and trust will take time to restore, but there’s a will on both sides to move on.
“Let’s join hands for a better future in the coming (Chinese) new year, the Year of the Tiger,” urged Cong as he summed up.
Joining hands is probably a long way off, but fists seem to be unclenching, which is a good start.
