08 february 2012, 17h06

Canada-China trade accord took 18 years

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao
(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)

The conclusion of 18 years of talks with the Chinese for an investment protection deal marks a historic step forward in Canada-China relations, the prime minister said Wednesday. At the end of his first full day in China, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper held up the foreign investment promotion and protection deal as the result of legwork to repair a bruised relationship between the two countries. A foreign investment promotion and protection deal gives foreign investors assurances they'll be treated the same as domestic companies and allows for arbitration at an international tribunal-type body in disputes. It still has to undergo legal review by both countries. The deal was one of several signed on Mr. Harper's first full day of a three-city tour of China, his second visit since being elected prime minister. Mr. Harper sat down with Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to talk economics, but at least half the meeting was spent on other topics. Mr. Harper raised concerns about China's decision to veto a UN Security Council resolution that would have applied greater pressure on Syria in the wake of increased violence in that country. Officials said the prime minister also raised the case of Huseyin Celil, a Canadian citizen serving a life sentence for speaking out on behalf of China's Uighur minority.

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