The strategic partnership between Canada and China, under
concerted efforts by both sides, would be pushed further forward, a
senior visiting Chinese official said on Monday.
Cai Wu, director of the Information Office of China's State
Council, made the remarks when delivering a speech at Canada's
Parliamentary Press Gallery in Ottawa.
In retrospect to the past 35 years of bilateral diplomatic ties,
Cai spoke of the rapid growth in exchanges and cooperation between
Canada and China in fields such as politics, economy, trade,
education and culture, as well as fruitful bilateral cooperation on
major international and regional issues.
"Deepening and enriching the China-Canada relationship serves
the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples and
contributes to the prosperity and development of the Asia-Pacific
region and the world as a whole," he said.
He told dozens of Canadian politicians and media representatives
that since the policies of reform and opening-up had been
introduced at the end of the 1970s, China had successfully embarked
on a road of peaceful development compatible with its national
conditions and characteristics of the times.
"China persists in its pursuit of harmony and development
internally while pursuing peace and development externally," he
said.
The two aspects, closely linked and organically united, were an
integrated whole, and would help to build a harmonious world of
sustained peace and common prosperity, he added.
China's GDP had increased from around US$216.5 billion in 1978
to US$2,230 billion in 2005 at an average growth rate of 9.6
percent per year, he said, adding that the country's per-capita GDP
had risen from US$226 to US$1,700 in the period.
However, he said China's economic achievements should not be
overestimated.
China, with a population of 1.3 billion, had a weak economic
foundation and unbalanced development, and remained the largest
developing country in the world, he said.
"As our leaders have repeatedly said, any small, individual
problem multiplied by 1.3 billion becomes a big, big problem. And
any considerable amount of financial and material resources divided
by 1.3 billion becomes a very low per capita level," He said.
Canada-China relations have witnessed a sound development in
recent years. Canada was among the first Western nations to
establish diplomatic ties with China in the 1970s.
According to Chinese statistics, two-way trade has increased by
more than 100 times from US$150 million in 1970 to US$19.17 billion
in 2005. China has become the second largest trading partner of
Canada, only after the United States. Meanwhile, Canada is China's
10th largest trading partner.
In September 2006, during Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to
Canada, the leaders of the two countries agreed to upgrade the
bilateral relationship to the strategic partnership.
(Xinhua News Agency October 24, 2006)
