What is it about Harper’s China trip?

Dear readers: Here’s the transcript of today’s briefing on PM Harper’s visit to China. Enjoy.

Main point? Just a tour. Nothing to be signed. But free entrance to the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. (my emphasis in bold)

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TRANSCRIPTION DATE: November 30th, 2009 – 1:00 p.m. LOCATION: National Press Theater, Ottawa, Ontario

PRINCIPALS:

‧Dimitri Soudas, Associate Communications Director

‧Claude Carriere, Foreign Defence Policy Advisor

‧Ken Sunquist, Assistant Deputy Minister, Asia & Africa

‧David Mulroney, Canada’s Ambassador in China (on the telephone)

SUBJECT: Briefing on Stephen Harper’s upcoming trip to China and the Republic of Korea

Dimitri Soudas: Good afternoon everybody. My name is Dimitri Soudas, associate communications director and press secretary to the prime minister. To my left is Claude Carriere, foreign defence policy advisor to the prime minister and to my right, Ken Sunquist. He is the assistant deputy minister, Asia and Africa. Also on the line is ambassador David Mulroney who is currently in China. You can quote me on the record throughout this whole briefing and the officials including ambassador Mulroney can be quoted on background as senior government officials.

So we will go through first kind of a rough sketch of the itinerary and we will also start off – basically the visit of prime minister Harper to China and South Korea marks his third major international trip in less than a month. He attended the APEC Summit from November 14th to the 15th, followed by an important and successful visit to India from November 16th to the 18th. A week later, actually yesterday, and a few days ago, the prime minister was in Trinidad and Tobago for a meeting of Commonwealth leaders and from December 2nd to the 6th, the prime minister will be visiting Beijing, Shanghai and the Hong Kong special administrative region. From there, he will travel to Seoul, South Korea from December 6th to the December 7th.

The prime minister’s visit to China takes place as China and Canada are about to celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations in 2010; two-way trade is a historic high, $53 billion and growing, and investment in both directions is accelerating. The visit caps a steady progression of high level visits including some 20-ministerial visits but also visits by business leaders, university presidents, scientists, artists and Canadians from all walks of life. The visit complements the regular meeting between our leaders at events like APEC and the G20 and we are also putting in place a strong network of connections creating mutually beneficial links to China.

This essential to our future prosperity, this is essential to our future prosperity, security and well-being. Most importantly, people to people links are growing even stronger. Canada has 1.2 million Canadians of Chinese origin and Chinese, a combination of Cantonese and Mandarin, is our third most widely spoken language in Canada, after English and French. And there is also more than 42,000 Chinese students who are currently studying in Canada.

In China, the prime minister is expected to meet with president Hu Jintao, National People’s Congress chairman Wu Bangguo and premier Wen Jiabao. In Shanghai, the prime minister is going to meet with business leaders and political leaders such as the mayor of Shanghai. In Hong Kong, he will meet with chief executive Donald Tsang (ph.) and he will also meet with Canadian and Chinese business leaders. In Hong Kong, the prime minister is also going to take part in the annual commemoration of Canadians who fought and died defending Hong Kong in December 1941.

Now the prime minister will be traveling to China at a time when the country has emerged as a global power. Developments in China are drivers in virtually any analysis of global trends and these issues are central to the day-to-day interests of Canadians. However with that role comes significant responsibility. As a global economic force and a permanent member of the Security Council, China’s positive engagement is essential in confronting any number of global issues. China is a major player on the international, economic and financial stage at a time when an important focus for Canada and China is securing economic recovery.

Canada and China can both point to the importance of sound financial management as a key fact in avoiding the worst global economic crisis and more importantly ensuring that we are on track for a sustainable recovery. During the downturn, China’s economy grew nearly by 8%. China’s huge domestic market and its role is one of the world’s largest exporting nations. It will be a central element of global recovery.

Canada has a tremendous amount to offer to China, resources that China needs for its growth, technology, education and connectiveness to the North-American market. We also have important knowhow that China can draw from such as in the financial sector where Canada’s solid banking system has demonstrated its strengths in weathering the global economic storm, on the environment and clean energy, and in the health and social services sector where China’s population has expensive needs.

Canada’s wealth of natural and agricultural resources alone will mean that we will continue to play a key role in China’s economic transformation, but we are also working hard to ensure that Canada is seen to be the home to great universities, a source of technology and innovation, a welcoming multicultural society and a globally engaged international player. We are also building on our existing footprint which takes in the major cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guanghou, Shunghin (ph.) to include trade offices in six additional commercial centers. Our trade commissioners are at work providing assistance to Canadian companies in areas like agriculture and food, wood products, aerospace, communications technology and financial services.

Conveniently located, visa application centers are improving our client service and making it even easier for Chinese people to visit Canada and we expect that visit traffic both – that visit traffic both ways will grow with Chinese guests coming to the Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver and Canadians visiting Expo 2010 in Shanghai.

China is an increasingly important partner when it comes to global issues related to energy, the environment, health and development and China also has a critical role to play in international peace and security, especially in the Korean peninsula and Afghanistan as a participant to the six-party talks and once again as a permanent member of the United Nations’ Security Council.

In 2010, Canada will have a particularly important leadership role to play on the global stage as the chair of the G8 and host of the next G20 Summit. In this capacity, the prime minister will be discussing a wide range of global issues with his Chinese counterparts, notably with regard to the G20, now the world’s premier economic forum of which both Canada and China are members and at which both countries have advocated for opening up the markets and fighting protectionism.

The prime minister’s visit to China will be a key opportunity to extend our presence in China and with our ability to promote Canadian interests. The strength of our ties allows us to continue to engage with China even though we may disagree on some important issues. New global realities demand a modernized Canada-China relationship and Canada’s relationship with China is evolving accordingly. However this visit will not transform the bilateral relationship overnight. The Canada-China relationship is strong, deep and diverse and of real mutual benefit. We are taking the opportunity to reinforce it and to extend it, reaching out to an emerging China in areas that are of real importance to Canada and Canadians and we are not forgetting that it has at its foundation people to people ties that are enriching both countries.

Now for South Korea, immediately following the prime minister’s visit to China, the prime minister is going to fly to Seoul on December 6th for a full day visit to South Korea on December 7th. During his visit, the prime minister is going to make a historic address to the South Korean National Assembly. This will be the first time that a Canadian prime minister has ever addressed the South Korean Legislature. The prime minister is also expected to meet with South Korean president Lee as well as leaders from Korea’s business community.

It will also be an opportunity to highlight and reinforce Canada’s historical ties to the Korean peninsula where a Canadian presence continues as a legacy of our participation and sacrifice in the Korean War. South Korea is an important partner with whom we have strong people to people linkages, stemming from historical connections, increasing immigration and tourism flows and obviously academic exchanges. We are working closely on the world stage with prospects for a further strengthened partnership due to coordination on our respective G20 Summit in 2010. Canada and South Korea have already demonstrated a singularity purpose in our G20 partnership going into 2010. When Canada in Pittsburgh announced a $2.6 billion temporary increase in callable capital to the African Development Bank, South Korea made a similar announcement a short time after.

So these individual initiatives are a reflection of Canada and South Korea’s shared commitment to helping developing countries which have been hardest hit in the current global recession. As the world moves through these uncertain economic times, it s clear that our ability to build a lasting recovery is directly tied to the partnerships we pursue around the world. The prime minister’s visit to South Korea will be an opportunity for Canada to underscore the importance that Canada places on Korea as a valued trading partner in a strategically important region.

So I guess we can try and open the floor to questions and we also have some people on the phone. So it is going to one question per reporter. Who wants to go first? Yes?

Question: Finance minister Jim Flaherty and Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney have both expressed concern about the Chinese currency regime and how it poses a risk to the global recovery. Will prime minister Harper raise the issue with any of the officials?

Dimitri Soudas: I won’t comment specifically on one currency. What I can tell you is that the prime minister, at at least one G20 summit if not a couple of them, has raised issues of macroeconomic policy including issues involving international currencies. I believe he was also asked that question yesterday, and I will conclude just by saying that on commenting directly on the currency, just like he doesn’t comment on the value of the Canadian dollar, he doesn’t comment on the value of other currencies, but it is expected that the prime minister, in a wide range of meetings that he will be having, will be – there will be exchanges related to fiscal policy. Valerie?

Question: A quel point les changements climatiques vont etre a l’ordre du jour?

Dimitri Soudas: A quel point? Sans doute qu’en vue du sommet de Copenhague, il y aura des discussions sur les changements climatiques. Il y en a eu au sommet de l’APEC ou la Chine a participe et c’est certain qu’vant le sommet de Copenhague, que le premier ministre va etre present et il va vouloir discuter des changements climatiques sans doute avec le premier ministre chinois, etant donne que lui aussi a deja indique qu’il allait participer. Madeleine?

Question: Pour ce qui est des droits de la personne, vu que le premier ministre a deja fait des commentaires assez severes a l’endroit de la Chine, est-ce qu’il peut se permettre d’en faire encore puisque toutes ses paroles vont etre probablement surveillees d’un peu plus pres?

Dimitri Soudas: En ce qui concerne la relation entre le Canada et la Chine, c’est une relation qui est – qui date du point de relations diplomatiques de presque 40 ans. Sous ce gouvernement, il y a eu plus ou moins 20 visites ministerielles qui ont aussi donne l’opportunite de preparer la visite du premier ministre au cours des prochains jours. C’est une relation que le premier ministre a toujours eue comme une relation positive, respectueuse, et franche, c’est-a-dire qu’il y a des dossiers ou nos deux gouvernements sont parfaitement sur la meme longueur d’ondes et travaillent en collaboration, mais il y a aussi parfois des desaccords et pendant notre visite en Chine, je m’attends a ce que le premier ministre souleve des questions en ce qui concerne les preparations du sommet du G20, l’environnement, le commerce, les droits de la personne, de pratiquement toucher sur tous les aspects qui concernent la relation sino-canadienne.

Question: How about..

Dimitri Soudas: Helene?

Question: Oui, d’abord merci pour cette presentation tout en anglais. Sur la question des droits humains donc vous avez pas repondu a la question de ma collegue, a savoir est-ce qu’il y aura des declarations par monsieur Harper ou en fait des commentaires de monsieur Harper sur la question des droits humains?

Question: Premierement on vous remercie de nous accueillir au Theatre de la presse. Heureusement il y a de la traduction simultanee que vous avez pu ecouter a l’oreille et deuxiemement sur la question que Madeleine a posee, je vais peut-etre la repeter pour que vous puissiez la comprendre mieux. Le premier ministre dans sa relation avec la chine a toujours place une importance sur cette relation.

Question: Specifiquement, est-ce qu’il va tenir des discours sur les droits humains. Je comprends les 40 – les 20 visites ministerielles, mais jeveux savoir est-ce que monsieur Harper va soulever specifiquement cette question avec ces intervenants?

Dimitri Soudas: Je m’attends a ce que le premier ministre souleve, puis c’etait la derniere partie de ma reponse a Helene, je m’attends a ce que le premier ministre souleve tout le compte rendu de la relation entre le Canada et la Chine, tant economique, tant environnement, tant education, tant sante que droits de la personne.

David?

Question: Listening to your opening, just sort of why China is important, trade, etc., etc., it just struck me as remarkable that you might have been able to say the very same thing three or four years ago, they are still our second largest partner, this has taken quite a while for the prime minister to visit our second largest trading partner. With that sort of context, I think many folks in Canada who were very concerned about China’s record on human rights perhaps admire the prime minister for his strong – I don’t know how – statements on China’s human rights and may now be worried that that is softened because we are worried about trade, that we are putting human rights issues on the back burner. I wonder if you can just maybe sketch why or what has changed over the four years in terms of the government’s views towards China and whether or not people who are concerned about human rights have any reason to be concerned that it won’t be such the high priority that it might have been in 2006, 2007?

Dimitri Soudas: Well, one issue, our relationship with a country like China or any other country is on several tracks. One issue doesn’t trump the other while having frank, respectful and positive discussions on certain issues, that doesn’t prevent one to express concern on others. So I would simply say that since taking office, the position of the prime minister and of this government has been consistent. It has sometimes been interpreted differently, but it has been very consistent since the beginning and all ministerial visits that have occurred in China since this government has taken office have covered the full breadth of the relationship and so will the prime minister’s visit. Go ahead.

Question: With the Indian visit, we saw a deal coming out of that. I’m wondering what likely maybe on the table some kind of a deal, for example Canadian banks have been trying to get into the retail market over there for some time and if legislation will (inaudible) or something else?

Dimitri Soudas: Well, what you saw during the India visit I think you will see during the China visit. The purpose of these visits is not to get on a plane, fly halfway across the world, sign a document and come back. I will point to you for example in India, we did not sign a nuclear cooperation agreement in India. It was following the meeting between prime minister Singh and prime minister Harper that they both gave very clear instructions to their officials which was get this done and less than ten days later, prime minister Harper and prime minister Singh announced a historic agreement on nuclear cooperation.

Bilateral visits such as the one in India, such as the one that is going to take place in China starting on Wednesday and the one in Korea, their main focus is that by going there, you get the opportunity to meet the people there at their invitation. You are their guest. You have an opportunity to have meetings not only with political leaders, but with business leaders but also learn and get a better appreciation of society there, of the culture and a better understanding of it. So it is building relationships, it is strengthening ties that eventually result in positive outcomes. At this point, I don’t anticipate any announcement in China. It wasn’t the purpose of the trip in India and it is not the purpose of the trip to China or to Korea. The purpose of prime minister Harper traveling to China is a strong indication of the importance that the government puts in the relationship and the 20-some ministerial visits also highlight that. Susan?

Question: In 2006, the prime minister did say that human rights would not be trumped by the all mighty dollar, by trade. So I’m just wondering again, when you say that one issue doesn’t trump the other, if there has not been a shift in some ways and also if you could explain a bit how the prime minister plans to raise the issue of human rights, sort of when, where and what context during the visit?

Dimitri Soudas: Well, at the time I recall, I recall that pundits predicted that two-way trade was going to collapse because of the Ven (ph.) approach apparently and I insist on the fact that the approach has not changed. A relationship between good friends is a relationship that permits raising and promoting and moving forward on issues where there is agreement, but that same relationship allows for frank and respectful discussion around issues where there is disagreement or where there is a different perspective. So at the time when the prime minister made those comments, the interpretation was that trade between the two countries would go to a half. On note that four years later, two-way trade, be it imports or exports, has increased exponentially, over 30%. And I insist once again that the approach to the relationship is the same. So this government has had the exact same approach since taking office and that is covering the entire spectrum of the relationship in a frank, positive and respectful way. John and then Terry?

Question: (Inaudible) question, nothing is going to be signed, we understand, but can any one of the three of you tell us, let’s say, the three priority files that you hope to discuss and would like to make some progress on? Financial services or what else?

Dimitri Soudas: Well, ambassador Mulroney is on the line and he has played a very important role in organizing the prime minister’s visit. So maybe I will let him answer this one. Mr. Ambassador? Would you like to…

Sr. Government official #1: Well, I guess you can take a look at it several different ways.

Sr. Government official #1: We have got him.

Sr. Government official #2: Can you hear me okay?

Sr. Government official #1: Yes, we can hear you now.

Sr. Government official #2: Well, it is very much as Dimitri suggested at the outset. Obviously trade and investment will be a big part of what we are focusing and have been focusing on. Dimitri mentioned that the relationship on the trade side is at $53 billion bilaterally and growing. That makes it Canada’s second largest trade investment relationship. The investment side of it is interesting. It has been growing in the neighborhood of 30% a year both ways, so that is important. Energy and environment, obviously important and other issues like health, obviously not just theoretical. We work very closely. The Public Health Agency of Canada has people in China working on public health issue and a range of global issues. Dimitri touched on the Korean peninsula, Canada’s engagement in Afghanistan, the G20. Increasingly as China becomes more active and more engaged globally, the number of things that we have to talk about in terms of our own global agenda increases.

Dimitri Soudas: Terry?

Question: A question about climate change. As I recall at the APEC Summit, the prime minister said that he is not really interested but he said that whatever we do about climate change will have no impact as were – unless we see concrete commitment from the biggest emitters, obviously that includes the biggest, China. So, and then in recent days, China has announced pretty modest goal of not actually reducing its emissions, but merely its intensity merely the rate of growth. Does the prime minister have a position on whether that is sufficient to overcome his previous objections?

Dimitri Soudas: Well, ultimately all roads lead to Copenhagen, at this point, Terry. The prime minister has, has and will continue to make the case that an effective international agreement on climate change must include all major emitters with tangible and realistic targets in order to reduce greenhouse gases. I do anticipate that the environment and climate change will be discussed during the prime minister’s trip as one of several issues that will come up and as you know, the Chinese premier has also announced his participation at the Copenhagen summit and if you look at statements that leaders made, both at the APEC Summit where China was present and the Commonwealth where China is not a member, there is a will to make significant progress at Copenhagen. So we will be going to Copenhagen with that same position, that we have clearly communicated for a while now. Bob?

Question: But also you don’t see…

Dimitri Soudas: I just wave Bob in the back…

Question: But you don’t say either way whether what China has proposed is

enough? If you don’t have a position, that is fine, but I just want to know that that is clear?

Dimitri Soudas: I would simply say that I will leave that to the prime minister. He will be having discussions with the premier and I don’t want to prejudge that conversation. Bob?

Question: There is a Canadian who has been in prison accused of terrorism by the Chinese. The prime minister and your government has made – or had made I should say, raised this issue at the highest level and have been quite concerned about this gentleman’s imprisonment.

Dimitri Soudas: You are referring to Mr. Celil

Question: Correct. Is the prime – is there any deal to have this man released as a sign of good will from the Chinese? Are we going to raise the issue? I mean it is a pretty big – it is a big concern here and certainly I know your government was very concerned about it at one point.

Dimitri Soudas: I will turn that over to ambassador Mulroney.

Sr. Government official #2: Thanks, Dimitri. We don’t normally comment on individual consular cases in terms of how we are managing them. I can say we have a very active program here in China for a range of Canadian consular cases. In some of those, there is a disagreement between us and the Chinese as to what the nationality is and regardless, we work with – where we have access, we work with the individuals, we work with their families and we take them all very very seriously.

Question: (Inaudible) six or seven months ago, are we concerned? Are we going to raise this issue or not?

Dimitri Soudas: The government makes a big deal, Bob, to ensure to provide consular assistance to all those who are Canadians abroad and have found themselves in a difficult situation, especially when those have done nothing that is wrong. Anybody else in the room or else we can – David? Have you asked already?

Question: I have.

Dimitri Soudas: I want to make sure that we are fair.

Question: Is one of the issues that you are going to raise on trade and

investment about Canada getting on the list of approved destinations?

Dimitri Soudas: What I can say to that, and that is an excellent question, is that a while ago the Chinese government had announced an intention on that. Our understanding is that whatever delay there is on the Chinese government side. Having said that, tourism from China to Canada, despite the fact that the approved destination status has not been announced as of yet, tourism from China to Canada has increased, but obviously we would welcome progress and an announcement sometime after the visit or in the near future from the Chinese government. Julian?

Question: Yes, I wonder on the bond issue, I mean I’m not sure I understand your answer. The U.S. president has raised the bond issue with China. The European Union has raised the issue with China. Are you saying the prime minister will not raise the issue? It isn’t just a matter of Chinese internal politics here or policies. This is affecting the exchange rate that Canada has with the United States and it is affecting our exports and it is affecting our economy, so I find it hard to believe that you won’t raise that issue.

Dimitri Soudas: I have said that the prime minister has raised issues of currency and microeconomic policy at several summits. I don’t have a transcript of the discussions that he hasn’t had yet with president Hu or president wen or their leaders. So I will be able to provide you that information in detail once discussions have taken place. I don’t have a line by line answer on every single specific topic, so I have noted that this is an issue of interest and once the trip begins and there is more information on specific topics that have been raised, I will make sure to keep you guys posted. Is there anybody on the phone that has any questions?

Operator: Thank you, merci. If you have a question and you are using a speakerphone, please lift your handset before making your selection. Si vous utilisez un telephone mains libres, s’il vous plait soulevez le combine avant de faire votre selection. If you have a question please press star one on your telephone keypad. Si vous desirez poser une question, veuillez s’il vous plait appuyez sur etoile un de votre telephone a clavier. Any time you wish to cancel your question, please press the pound sign. Vous pouvez a tout moment annuler votre question en annulant sur le diese. There will be a brief pause while the participants register for questions. Il y aura un court delai vous permettant de vous enregistrer dans la file d’attente pour la periode de questions. Thank you for your patience, merci de patienter. Our first question is from Mary Yang from A1 Chinese Radio. Notre premiere question est de Mary Yang de A1 Chinese Radio. A vous la parole, please go ahead.

Question: Thank you. Hi, Dimitri, how are you?

Dimitri Soudas: Good, how are you Mary?

Question: Fine thank you. I just wonder if there is any Chinese MP going to China with the prime minister?

Dimitri Soudas: There are Canadian MPs that are traveling with the prime minister of Chinese origin, MP Michael Chong, Alice Wong and then others are going to be John Weston, Daryl Kramp who is also the chair of the Canada-China Legislative Association, and Bob Dechert the vice-chair and also MP Andrew Saxton and ministers Ritz and Day will also be accompanying the prime minister on the trip.

Question: What about businessmen, are there any coming?

Dimitri Soudas: I do anticipate members of the Chinese Canadian business community such as Mr. Tom Chang, he is the CEO of Success, Victor Oh, he is the president of the Mississauga Chinese Business Association, the honorable Philip Lee, he is the lt. Governor of Manitoba who will join the prime minister for the Hong Kong portion of the trip, Mr. Philip Lee Hong (ph.), he is the vice-president of RBC Securities, Mr. Jack Lee, founder of T&T Supermarkets Inc. and miss Alice Choy, she is a board member of the Chinese Canadian National Council.

Question: Any other phones – -any other questions on the phone?

Operator: Thank you. Our next question is from (inaudible), notre prochaine question de (inaudible). A vous la parole, please go ahead.

Question: I would like to know (Inaudible)?

Dimitri Soudas: That is actually great advice, rather than questions. So we will take that into account and news releases through the department of Foreign affairs will be issued if one should take place, but also if you want to receive information of the trip, please send an email to Andrew McDougall, the prime minister’s deputy press secretary and we will make sure that you will receive information. Andrea McDougall and Sadia Qureshi in the prime minister’s office. Any other questions on the phone?

Operator: Thank you. Our next question is from Sandy Chang from Epoch Times (ph.), notre prochaine question est de Sandy Chang de Epoch Times. Please go ahead, la

parole est a vous.

Question: Hello.

Dimitri Soudas: Hi, Sandy.

Question: Yes. Mr. David (inaudible) and David Kilgour recently released their

book on their investigation on organ harvesting from (inaudible) in China and they recommend as a matter of strategy of principle, when expressing concerns about human rights, that the world leaders should deal with the first violations and they say that (inaudible) who is a Canadian citizen, does the prime minister intend to specifically raise the issue of (Inaudible)?

Dimitri Soudas: David would you like to take that one please?

Sr. Government official #2: The issue of the book from Mr. (Inaudible) and Mr. Kilgour, those issues have been raised with the Chinese. I know that in response in 2007, they implemented new regulations on organ transplantations to address the concerns because it was previously unregulated and it established a national organ donation system, but of course, various countries follows this very carefully and very closely. As I think Dimitri said, issues relating to human rights are really part of the relationship. They come up on visits, they come up in sort of multilateral sessions with other countries. We build those into the programming that we do with China, but we do it in a way that it is designed to really effect change. So it is done in a frank way, but it is also done in a respectful way, but it is very much woven into the fabric of the relationship.

Dimitri Soudas: Any other questions on the phone?

Operator: Thank you our next question is from – sorry, Ray Chan from Sing Tao Daily (ph.) notre prochaine question de Ray Chan de Sing Tao Daily. La parole est a vous, please go ahead.

Dimitri Soudas: Hi, Ray.

Question: I know this seems to be – (inaudible) for this trip seem to be quite early, that this is a last moment deal with the Chinese government or is there something wrong with the (inaudible), there seems to be quite a rush? Because from the announcement to go ahead, there seems to be only one or two weeks?

Dimitri Soudas: On the actual trip?

Question: Yes.

Dimitri Soudas: Well it takes – it takes quite a bit of organization to actually set up a

prime ministerial trip. I can tell you that officials on both side have been working for quite some time but also on the other – -the other side of the coin, if you believe that it only took a couple of weeks, it obviously speaks to the ability of the government of Canada and the government of China to organize such a detailed four-day trip to Canada (ph.). So either way, I think it is going to be a positive trip and whether it has taken months to organize or weeks, I think it is the outcome that matters the most and the fact that this government has sent ministers and now the prime minister traveling to China. We probably have time for one last question on the phone and then we will have Emmanuelle and Patricia here provide closing remarks.

Operator: Thank you, a question from Tina Chong from Voice of America China, la prochaine question de Tina Chong from Voice of America China. La parole est a vous, please go ahead.

Question: Yes, hi. This (inaudible) following the premier’s question (inaudible), I would like to know because I understand that Canadian Human Rights League about China, they hand over political prisoner lists, including the (inaudible). I wonder if the prime minister will raise the question on the political prisoners.

Dimitri Soudas: Claude?

Sr. Government official #1: We have raised over the past several years specific human rights cases in China and we have raised these cases in preparation for this trip.

Dimitri Soudas: Emmanuelle?

Question: Yes, if you can come back to my colleague’s question about the three

– the three priorities. We ended up with a list of long bilateral issues. Is there beyond the need to address these widespread issues between Canada and China, is there like a targeted focus on three priorities, three files that really need to be advanced beyond others, you know, considering it is a wide relationship, he is meeting with the leadership. Not every issue is as important as the other. Is there a focus on some issues being more important than others, like are there three

priorities?

Dimitri Soudas: Well…

Question: Four, whatever?

Dimitri Soudas: You know, I mean the reality is that the bilateral relationship ranges

from more than just sound bite priorities. You have the economy which encompasses both bilateral and multilateral engagement. On the bilateral level, trade, for example multilateral preparation for the next G20 summit and obviously socio-economic files. You know, the prime minister is going to be meeting with the president, the prime minister, the party secretary, the mayor of Shanghai, it is not so much about, you know, setting a number of priorities X. It is about being able to have and becoming engaged on a wide range of issues and I think we have outlined those quite clearly. Patricia? That is going to be the last question because QP is about to start.

Question: They are connected, you mentioned a speech and a short remarks I think in Hong Kong. Any joint remarks with any of the political leaders that he is meeting with?

Dimitri Soudas: We are still finalizing those types of details. I hope to have at a bare minimum answers the day before on every event.

Question: Any interviews with the local media that we might be able to get access to?

Dimitri Soudas: Whenever there are, for example in India, there was an interview with one of the major television networks. If there are any, we will invite pool to be able to tape it and obviously give it to everybody around. Okay, great. Thank you very much everybody for coming. Enjoy question period.

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Tags: Canada-China, diplomacy, Hu Jintao, Politics, Stephen Harper, Trade, Wen Jiabao

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