GYEONGJU, South Korea, 1 November (H.S.): Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping have signaled a significant thaw in their countries' frosty relationship, with Carney accepting an invitation to visit China following their first leadership meeting in eight years.

The 40-minute discussion on the sidelines of the APEC summit on Friday was hailed by Carney as a turning point in a relationship that has been plagued by diplomatic and trade disputes.

Distance is not the way to solve problems, not the way to serve our people, Carney remarked after the meeting, emphasizing a renewed commitment to engagement. Xi echoed this sentiment, stating that China is willing to work with Canada to push China-Canada relations back onto a healthy, stable, and sustainable correct track.

The leaders have instructed their officials to move swiftly to resolve outstanding trade issues and irritants, according to a readout from the Prime Minister's office.The rapprochement comes at a critical time for Canada, which has found itself entangled in what some provincial premiers have dubbed a two-front trade war with its two largest trading partners, the US and China.

Relations with Washington have deteriorated under President Donald Trump, who has imposed punishing tariffs on Canadian goods and recently suspended all trade talks.

In response, Carney has pivoted to strengthening ties with other major economies, with a stated goal of doubling Canada's non-US exports within the next decade, particularly to the economic giants of Asia.

Bilateral tensions with China have been high since the 2018 detention of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Canada and Beijing's subsequent arrest of two Canadians, Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig. The relationship has been further strained by a trade dispute that escalated in 2024 with reciprocal tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and Canadian agricultural products, and by allegations of Chinese meddling in Canadian elections.

While the meeting in Gyeongju marks a significant step towards mending ties, no concrete breakthroughs on trade were announced. The date for Carney's visit to China has not yet been set.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar