Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly is visiting Beijing, in what was an unannounced trip, for high-level talks with her counterpart there.
According to a statement from China’s foreign ministry, she will be in China from July 18 to July 20, at the invitation of the Chinese foreign minister.
The two ministers are expected to discuss “Canada-China relations as well as complex global and regional security issues,” according to a statement from Global Affairs Canada.
“As the world faces increasingly complex and intersecting global issues, Canada is committed to engaging pragmatically with a wide range of countries to advance our national interests and uphold our values. As described in Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, we must maintain open lines of communication and use diplomacy to challenge where we ought to, while seeking cooperation in areas that matter most to Canadians. I look forward to a productive meeting.”
The visit comes amid tensions between Ottawa and Beijing.
This is a breaking news story. More details to come.