Beijing ready to consolidate momentum for ties: FM

China is willing to strengthen communication with Canada and take effective steps to accelerate the resumption of exchanges and cooperation in various fields, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday.

In a telephone conversation with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, Wang expressed readiness to consolidate the momentum for growing bilateral relations in a practical and constructive manner.

This is the second interaction between the two foreign ministers in a month, as Anand paid her first visit to Beijing in her current capacity just over three weeks ago.

At the end of last month, President Xi Jinping and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also held a meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea, which Wang said is a sign that China-Canada relations have been brought back onto the right track for growth after seven years of setbacks.

Implementing the consensus reached by the two leaders is at the top of the agenda for bilateral ties, he noted.

The diplomatic and commercial departments of both nations, Wang said, should enhance coordination and address each other's legitimate concerns in the spirit of mutual understanding, accommodation and friendly consultations, thereby promoting the healthy, steady and sustainable development of China-Canada relations.

Calling the meeting between the leaders of the two countries an important turning point in Canada-China relations, Anand said Canada is willing to seize the opportunity to enhance dialogue and communication with China at all levels and across various fields, and deepen mutual understanding and trust.

She also expressed Canada's willingness to work with China to achieve more mutually beneficial outcomes in areas such as trade, consular affairs, drug control and energy.

In 2024, the volume of goods trade between China and Canada reached $83.7 billion, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

China remained Canada's second-largest trading partner, second-largest source of imports, and second-largest export market last year.

Zhao Xingshu, deputy director of the Department of Canadian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of American Studies, said that historical experience has shown that the genuine improvement in China-Canada relations cannot rely only on verbal goodwill, but also requires the Canadian side to demonstrate sincerity and determination through concrete actions.

This not only serves the common interests of both peoples but also helps maintain the stability of global industrial and supply chains, she added.