First phase of Meng Wanzhou's extradition hearing begins today

More than a year after Meng Wanzhou's arrest at Vancouver International Airport, the first formal phase of the Huawei executive's extradition hearing begins today in B.C. Supreme Court.

Over five days this week, Meng's defence team and lawyers for Canada's attorney general will debate the question of so-called double criminality in front of Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes.

The arrest of Meng in 2018 fractured relations between Canada and China. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs once again called on Canadian authorities to immediately set free Meng on Monday.

We trust in Canada's judicial system, which will prove Meng's innocence, said in a Huawei's statement on Meng's hearing on Monday.

"We hope Ms. Meng will be able to be together with her family, colleagues and friends as soon as possible."