The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that she is visiting Beijing, People’s Republic of China, on July 19, 2024, at the invitation of Wang Yi, China’s Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

“As the world faces increasingly complex and intersecting global issues, Canada is committed to engaging pragmatically with a wide range of countries to advance our national interests and uphold our values. As described in Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, we must maintain open lines of communication and use diplomacy to challenge where we ought to, while seeking cooperation in areas that matter most to Canadians. I look forward to a productive meeting.”

- Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs

• Canada’s relationship with China is long-standing and dates from well before the signing of the Joint Communiqué of the People's Republic of China and the Government of' Canada concerning the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and Canada in 1970.

• Strong people-to-people ties link Canada and China: over 1.8 million Canadian residents are of Chinese origin. Chinese is Canada’s third most spoken language after English and French. Tourism flows and ongoing cultural exchanges enrich bilateral linkages.

• In 2023, China remained the second largest single country trading partner to Canada, totaling $119.7B in two-way merchandise trade. Canadian merchandise exports to China were $30.5B, 6.2% higher than 2022, while merchandise imports were $89.2B.

Associated links

• Canada-China relations
• Minister Joly speaks with China’s Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi
• Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy

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