[加拿大新聞] Stephen Harper to visit China next month next, Stephen, Chinese, morning, visit

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http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Stephen+Harper+invited+China/5979152/story.html

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper is heading to China next month at a critical time in this country's relationship with the Asian powerhouse.

Harper announced Wednesday morning in Ottawa, after meeting with Chinese Ambassador Zhang Junsai, that he has received an invitation to visit the Asian country in the second week of February.

Harper is slated to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during his official visit.

"Canada and China enjoy a strategic partnership based on mutual respect and collaboration, and rooted in strong social and cultural links, shared by over one million Canadians of Chinese descent," Harper said in a statement.

"Our government is committed to moving our relationship with China forward by focusing on deepening economic ties, including opening new markets, and setting the foundation for long-term growth".

The invitation comes on the heels of a November tete-a-tete between Harper and Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Honolulu.

It was at that meeting that Harper received some mild praise from Hu for Canada's commitment to sewing stronger ties between the two countries.

"Mr. Prime Minister, you have repeatedly stated that you attach importance to our relationship and that you hope to forge an even closer relationship with China. I appreciate that position," Hu, through a translator, said at the time.

China is Canada's second-largest trading partner, next only to the United States, and a key customer for Canadian natural resources and agricultural products.

"This is a very important relation to us. We've had, continue to have, a series of productive bilateral ministerial visits between our two countries and we have growing trade, investment and of course even greater economic potential," Harper told Hu at the APEC summit.

Bilateral trade with China has tripled since 2001, totalling nearly $58 billion in 2010. Canada has also been negotiating a foreign investment and protection agreement with China, which the government expects will increase two-way trade.

The Conservatives have made China a priority since coming to power in 2006, with roughly 40 ministerial visits to the country.