Conservatives’ mismanagement of Canada-China relations is hurting Canada’s economy

Published on February 23, 2009

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OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper must reach out to China directly and try to repair the damage he and his government have done to this important diplomatic and economic relationship, Liberal Foreign Affairs Critic Bob Rae said today.

“In light of the United States stepping up its engagement with Beijing and the Prime Minister’s own former Foreign Affairs Minister acknowledging the deep divisions within the Conservative Party regarding China, Mr. Harper must change course,” said Mr. Rae. “Mr. Harper must shift his amateurish approach to Canada-China relations to one of nuance and professionalism.”

Last week, Mr. Harper’s former Foreign Affairs Minister David Emerson publicly called for Canada to “be more deeply engaged with China” and confirmed there are deep divisions within the Conservative government regarding how to deal with Beijing.

Canada is not only losing ground to the United States, but is far behind countries like Thailand, the Philippines, Germany and Australia when it comes to its share of the Chinese import market.

Prime Minister Harper snubbed China by refusing to attend the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and this diplomatic blunder was compounded when Conservative Parliamentary Committee Chair Rob Anders publically compared the 2008 Beijing Olympics to the 1936 Games hosted by the Nazis.

Immigration and Citizenship Minister Jason Kenney has long been a vocal critic of the Chinese government. As well, for over nine months, then Conservative Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay insulted China by rejecting requests for an initial meeting with the Chinese Ambassador and by failing to send any Canadian Minister to China during that time.

A matter of weeks after being confirmed U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton traveled to China and met with Chinese President Hu Jintao, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Premier Wen Jiabao. Discussions centered on the current global economic crisis, climate change and security, with an emphasis on the growing importance of U.S.-China relations.

Liberal International Trade Critic Scott Brison commented on the impact that the cool relationship between Ottawa and Beijing is having on the Canadian economy.

“During the first two years of Conservative government (2006 and 2007) Canada’s exports to China stagnated, barely keeping pace in proportion to China’s import growth,” he said. “In comparison, the United States increased its trade with China by 60 percent over those same years, far outpacing the growth of Chinese global imports and increasing their share of the Chinese market.

“Relations with Beijing are impacted greatly by the personal relationships between our countries. A new Liberal government will ensure that relations at the top are repaired. Successful trade initiatives such as the former Liberal government’s Team Canada Missions will be used to leverage those relationships into concrete economic activity,” he said.

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