Carney Plans to Meet With Xi to Try and Reset Relations

In a bid to revive and revitalize ties between their nations, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's top adviser, Mark Carney, is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The high-level encounter, which marks the first meeting between the two leaders in nearly eight years, aims to reset relations that have been strained due to years of disagreements and diplomatic tensions.The relationship between Canada and China has been frosty since 2016, when Ottawa arrested a top executive of Chinese tech giant Huawei on a US extradition warrant. China responded by detaining two Canadian citizens and imposing trade restrictions on Canadian goods, including canola and beef. The diplomatic row escalated further when Canada and its allies, including the US, expressed concerns over China's growing assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region.Against this backdrop, Carney's meeting with Xi is seen as a crucial step towards rekindling ties and finding common ground. The two leaders are expected to discuss a range of issues, including trade, investment, and security. Canada is keen to expand its trade with China, which is already one of its largest trading partners, while China is looking to strengthen its economic ties with Canada.The meeting also comes at a time when both countries are facing challenges on the global stage. Canada is seeking to diversify its trade relationships amid growing protectionism, while China is dealing with the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic and rising tensions with the US.A successful meeting between Carney and Xi could pave the way for a visit by Trudeau to China, which has been mooted for some time. It could also lead to the resumption of high-level diplomatic exchanges and the easing of trade restrictions. However, observers note that significant differences on issues like human rights, security, and trade are likely to persist, making a complete reset of relations a challenging task.