Overview
- Prime Minister Mark Carney held talks with President Xi Jinping in Beijing on January 16, the first leader-level meeting since 2017.
- Carney announced plans for a "new strategic partnership" targeting cooperation in energy, agriculture and finance, though no formal details have been released.
- The outreach follows a deep chill after the 2018 arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou and China's detention of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, as well as 2022 allegations of election interference.
- Since taking office in March 2025, Carney has pursued re-engagement with China as Canada faces heavy U.S. tariffs and broader trade tensions under President Donald Trump.
- Analysts and some outlets say the pivot is likely to unsettle the White House, which has sought to limit Beijing's influence in the Western Hemisphere.