Editor's note: Anthony Moretti, a special commentator for CGTN, is an associate professor at the Department of Communication and Organizational Leadership at Robert Morris University in the U.S. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of either CGTN or Robert Morris University.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will be in China from January 14 to 17. His visit comes at a pivotal time for his nation, which is grappling with significant pressures stemming from radical policy shifts emanating from the United States. His words and actions will resonate widely as he seeks to recalibrate China-Canada relations.

The last time a Canadian prime minister visited China was in 2017, and the world looks vastly different today. The West's oft-repeated "shared values" have been tested by a reckless Washington; the bloc's failure to craft a coherent narrative in response to America's international actions – many of which are at best unethical and at worst illegal – has weakened its standing on the global stage. More importantly, Canada and other Western democracies are confronting economic uncertainty due to Washington's commitment to tariffs.

While in China, the prime minister is likely to receive a steady stream of positive signals, and one can hope he will respond in kind. It is worth noting that, according to Chinese statistics, bilateral trade in goods exceeded 117 billion Canadian dollars ($84.26 billion) in 2024, underscoring the solid foundation and strong complementarity of economic ties between the two countries. These figures confirm that China has long been Canada's second-largest trading partner. With this in mind, the prime minister will seek – and should secure – assurances that China remains eager to expand trade opportunities across multiple sectors, including those that drive high-quality development.

Beijing has made it clear to nations large and small that it always pursues mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation; any agreements Carney reaches during his China visit will align with this paradigm. Afterward, it will be incumbent upon Canada to follow through with similarly positive approaches.

The Royal Bank of Canada is one of Canadian leading banking institutions. Last month, it released a new report detailing how tariffs have adversely affected the country's economy. The report found that Canada's automotive industry had been particularly hard hit, with rising costs and production disruptions clearly evident. Relatedly, the largest share of job losses in the country has come from the auto parts manufacturing sector. Similarly, Canada's iron and steel industries have faced job cuts and production challenges. Meanwhile, the country's aluminum industry has only managed to weather similar issues thanks to robust global demand.  

Taken together, the message is clear: Canada's economic situation could be worse, but its foundation is not as strong as it should be. As a senior official at another Canadian bank, the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), recently noted: "The Canadian economy has not yet fully felt the effects of the tariffs recently imposed on the lumber and kitchen cabinet sectors." This reality is one reason BDC estimates Canada will see growth of just 1 percent this year.

Canadians have seen the writing on the wall: America is unreliable, but China is not. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that 54 percent of Canadians surveyed in a poll released over the weekend support improved economic and trade relations with China.  

Indeed, now is the time for Canada to affirm its desire for positive, mutually beneficial relations with China.

Carney is well aware that Canada's long-standing reliance on the U.S. must be reassessed. Recently, he stated that his nation has "too many eggs in the American basket." The implication is clear: Ottawa disapproves of Washington's actions since the U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House and fears what the U.S. president may do next in 2026. Nevertheless, it is crucial for Carney to acknowledge that Canada has also aligned too closely with the U.S. in recent years as a harsh critic of China.  

The prime minister will need to both articulate and demonstrate through actions that his country has moved beyond black-and-white thinking and embraced the reality of a multipolar world free from cold-war mentalities.

Even before the prime minister confirmed his China visit, bilateral relations had already been improving. Most notably, the foreign ministers of the two countries held a positive meeting in October last year. At that time, Canada's foreign minister emphasized that China must be regarded as a strategic partner, meaning Canada aims to foster an environment where opportunities, not challenges, dominate bilateral discussions.

Canada does not need a political or economic lifeline, but it does need global stability. Washington cannot provide that, but Beijing can. If Carney truly recognizes this, there is every reason to believe 2026 will be a landmark year for China-Canada relations.

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