Canadian PM says to keep, strengthen "strong friendship" with China

Visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said here on Tuesday that he was "ready to keep and strengthen the strong friendship" between Canada and China. [Special coverage]

Trudeau made the remarks in a brief meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing.

It is good to start a stronger relationship, Trudeau said.

Li said the two countries had witnessed deepening relations in such areas as politics, trade, culture and people-to-people exchanges since the establishment of diplomatic relations 46 years ago.

Both are facing broad prospects for bilateral relations and cooperation, Li said.

He said the Chinese side was ready to work with the new Canadian government to create a new development era for bilateral ties and reciprocity.

This is the first official visit of Trudeau since taking office in November 2015. His father, former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, was the first Canadian prime minister to visit China after the establishment of diplomatic relations.

After his stay in Beijing, Trudeau will fly to Hangzhou to attend the G20 summit.