The two leaders held a brief meeting in Indonesia, which was captured by the media. The Associated Press (AP) reported that a television camera was behind a Chinese interpreter, in full view, while they were talking.
Everything we’ve discussed has been reported in the papers, it’s inappropriate. And it wasn’t… the way the conversation was conducted, if there was sincerity on your part,” Xi told Trudeau, through the interpreter.
“In Canada, we believe in free, open, and frank dialogue and that is what we will continue to achieve. We will continue to strive to work constructively together, but there will be things we disagree on.”
Xi looked around as Trudeau responded. Through the interpreter, the Chinese leader replied, “Let’s create conditions first.”
The two shook hands after their brief encounter.
Trudeau spoke to Xi for the first time at the G20 on Tuesday, where a senior Canadian government official noted that the two leaders talked about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, North Korea and climate change.
According to the same source, who did not identify himself, Trudeau also raised “serious concerns about interference activities”. [chinesa] in Canada”.
When asked later at a press conference, Trudeau noted that “not all conversations will always be easy,” but said it was “very important to continue to stand up for the things that matter to Canadians.”
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie also revealed that she had discussed Chinese interference with her Chinese counterpart at the G20.
Jolie last week noted that China is an increasingly irritating global power and warned companies against deepening their ties, warning of “geopolitical risks”.
Canadian police on Monday charged a Hydro-Québec employee with espionage for allegedly sending trade secrets to China.
Relations between Beijing and Ottawa began to deteriorate after the Canadian authorities arrested a senior executive of the Chinese technology giant Huawei, on charges of fraud by the United States.
China arrested two Canadians shortly after Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies and daughter of the company’s founder, was arrested on a US extradition request.
The two Canadians returned to their country last year, on the same day Meng returned to China after reaching an agreement with the US authorities under her employment.
Canada has banned mobile operators from installing Huawei equipment on high-speed 5G networks, joining allies in boycotting the company, which has close ties to the Communist Party and its military wing, the People’s Liberation Army.
Guy Saint-Jacques, Canada’s former ambassador to China, argued that Xi intentionally berated Trudeau on camera to send a message to the Canadian prime minister that Canada would not dictate the terms of the relationship.
The diplomat also noted that Xi’s translation had been interrupted by Trudeau and that Xi seemed angry about it.
“It is very unusual to see Xi Jinping participating in this kind of public exercise to criticize someone,” Saint-Jacques added.
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