Premier Li, Canada's Trudeau vow to uphold free trade

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday agreed to promote free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations between China and Canada, saying both sides will continue to uphold multilateralism and free trade and investment.

The two leaders were meeting for the third China-Canada Prime Ministers' Annual Dialogue on the sidelines of the At the meeting, Li also vowed to boost the level and scale of trade and investment between China and Canada as well as enhance cooperation in fields including climate change, environment, aerospace, and culture.

China and Canada have strong economic complementarities and broad prospects for cooperation. China is willing to work with Canada to continuously increase the scale and level of trade and investment between the two sides, the Chinese premier noted.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Singapore, November 14, 2018. /Xinhua Photo

Premier Li also said that China has noted Canada's clarifications on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, adding that it does not affect Canada's free trade agreement with other countries.

Li said that China is willing to work with Canada to protect the rules-based international order and free trade system and promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation.

China is open to the World Trade Organization's reforms, but the reforms must make sure globalization develops in a healthier way and the free trade system is protected, Li added.

Trudeau told Li that Canada's stance on carrying forward FTA negotiations with China won't be affected by other countries, and by continuing the negotiation, it will send a positive signal to the world in terms of safeguarding free trade and boosting trade and economic relations.

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