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Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Canada on October 13, 1970, the bilateral relations have witnessed significant developments. The President, Premier, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China (NPC) and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference(CPPCC) all visited Canada respectively. The Governor General, Prime Minister and Speakers of the Senate and the House of Commons of Canada also paid visits to China.
The two-way high-level visits in the 1970s and 1980s include:
In October 1973, the Rt. Hon. Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, visited China and this was the first visit to China by the Prime Minister of Canada after the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Premier Zhou Enlai held talks with him and Chairman Mao Zedong met with him. The two sides signed the Trade Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Canada.
In June 1978, Mr. Ji Pengfei, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, headed a NPC delegation to Canada.
In September 1979, the Hon. Louise Marguerite Renaude Lapoint, speaker of the Senate, and the Hon. Alexander James Jerome, speaker of the House of Commons, headed a Canadian parliamentary delegation to China.
In August 1980, Mr. Bo Yibo, Vice Premier of the State Council of China paid a visit to Canada and met with Prime Minister Trudeau. They focused on the bilateral economic and trade relations in their talks.
In October 1983, Mr. Wu Xueqian, State Councilor and Foreign Minister of China, visited Canada. The two sides signed the General Agreement on Development Cooperation between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Canada.
In November 1983, the Rt. Hon. Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, made a working visit to China and held talks with the Chinese leaders on international relations.
In January 1984, Mr. Zhao Zhiyang, Premier of the State Council of China, paid an official visit to Canada.
In April 1984, the Hon. Maurice Riel, speaker of the Senate, and Hon. Cyril Lloyd Francis, speaker of the House of Commons, headed a Canadian parliamentary delegation to China.
In July 1985, Mr. Li Xiannian, president of China, made a state visit to Canada, the first one by the president of China to Canada after the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries. President Li Xiannian met with Governor General Jeanne Sauve and Prime Minister Martin Brian Mulroney and held talks with them.
In May 1986, the Rt. Hon. Martin Brian Mulroney, Prime Minister of Canada, visited China. The two sides signed the Agreement Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Canada for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Tax Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income.
In May 1986, Mr. Yao Yilin, Vice Premier of the State Council of China, made an informal visit to Canada.
In March 1987, the Rt. Hon. Jeanne Sauve, Governor General of Canada, visited China and met with President Li Xiannian of China.
In April 1987, the Hon. Guy Charbonneau, speaker of the Senate, and the Hon. John Allen Fraser, speaker of the House of Commons, headed a Canadian parliamentary delegation to China. President Li Xiannian and Chairman Peng Zhen of the Standing Committee of NPC met with them respectively.
In May 1987, Mr. Yang Shangkun, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of China, headed a Chinese Government delegation to Canada and met with Prime Minister Mulroney and Foreign Minister Clark.
In May 1888, Mr. Tian Jiyun, Vice Premier of the State Council of China, visited Canada and met with Governor General Jeanne Sauve, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Deputy Prime Minister Donald Frank Mazankowski and the speakers of the Senate and the House of Commons.
In May 1989, Mr. Wan Li, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, headed a NPC delegation to Canada. It was the very first visit to Canada by the Chairman of NPC of China. Chairman Wan Li met and held talks with Governor General Jeanne Sauve, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, speaker Guy Charbonneau of the Senate and Speaker John Allen Fraser of the House of Commons.
The major visits in the 1990s include:
In May 1993, Mr. Zhu Rongji, Vice Premier of China visited Canada.
In April 1994, the Rt. Hon. Ramon J. Hnatyshyn, Governor General of Canada, visited China. During the same month, Mr. Zou Jiahua, Vice Premier of China, visited Canada. In November, the Rt. Hon. Jean Joseph Jacques Chretien, Prime Minister of Canada, led "Team Canada" to China.
In October 1995, Mr. Li Peng, Premier of China, visited Canada on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Canada.
In April 1996, Mr. Qiao Shi, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, visited Canada. In September, Mr. Qian Qichen, Vice Premier and Foreign Minister of China, visited Canada. In October, the Hon. Gildas L. Molgat, speaker of the Senate of Canada, visited China. In November, the Rt. Hon. Jean Joseph Jacques Chretien, Prime Minister of Canada, made a working visit to China and met with Premier Li Peng.
In April 1997, the Hon. Lloyd Axworthy, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, Visited China. In July, he observed the handing over ceremony of Hong Kong at the invitation of the Chinese Government. In November 1997, Mr. Jiang Zemin, president of China, paid a state visit to Canada at the invitation of Canadian Governor General Romeo Leblanc after attending the APEC Informal Leadership Meeting in Vancouver. This was the first visit to Canada by the president of China since 1985. During the visit, President Jiang met with Governor General Leblanc, Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Speakers of both the Senate and the House of Commons. He had an in-depth exchange of views with Canadian leaders on bilateral relations and other international and regional issues of common interest. Both sides reached broad understanding. The two sides agreed to build the 21st century-oriented China-Canada partnership of all-round cooperation. Besides Ottawa, the capital of Canada, President Jiang also visited Calgary and Toronto and made an important speech at the dinner hosted by the Canada-China Business Council in Toronto. The visit further promoted the bilateral economic and trade cooperation. The two sides also signed many agreements during the visit: the Consular Agreement between the two governments, the MOU of Cooperation in Tourism between the National Bureau of Tourism of China and the Tourism Committee of Canada, and three MOUs on development aid and the exchange of notes on increasing the number of consulate-general. The visit achieved the purpose of deepening understanding, enhancing friendship, facing future challenges together and expanding cooperation and laid a firm foundation for the stable, friendly and cooperative bilateral relations in the 21st century.
In January 1998, Mr. Chen Junsheng and Madame Peng Peiyun, State Councilors of China, visited Canada respectively. In September, Mr. Tang Jiaxun, Foreign Minister of China, visited Canada. In October, Mr. Li Tieying, Member of the Political Bureau and President of the Academy of Social Sciences of China, visited Canada. In November, the Rt. Hon. Jean Chretien, Prime Minister of Canada, paid his third visit to China as the Canadian Prime Minister after attending the APEC Informal Leadership Meeting.
In April 1999, Mr. Zhu Rongji, Chinese Premier, paid an official visit to Canada at the invitation of Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien. Besides Ottawa, Premier Zhu visited Saint John's, Toronto, Calgary, Victoria and Vancouver. He met with Canadian Governor General, Prime Minister, Speakers of the Senate and the House of Commons, several federal ministers and provincial and local officials. During their talk, the two prime ministers spoke highly of the current bilateral relations and agreed to strengthen cooperation between the two countries' legislative bodies and provincial and municipal governments on environmental protection and judicial reform, and also agreed to further strengthen consultation and cooperation in the United Nations. The two sides signed the Environmental Cooperation Action Plan, MOU on Cooperation in Combating Crime and three Protocols on Quarantine and Health Requirements. Premier Zhu also delivered a speech at the dinner hosted by Canada-China Business Council. This visit achieved the purpose of deepening understanding, increasing identical views, strengthening friendship and expanding cooperation. Premier Zhu Rongji's visit was crowned with success. In October, Mr. Jia Qinglin, Member of the Political Bureau of China and Secretary of Beijing Municipal Party Committee of the Communist Party of China, visited Canada. In December, the Hon. Raymond Chen, Secretary of State for Asia Pacific of Canada, attended the handing over ceremony of Macao on behalf of the Canadian Government.
In May 2000, His Excellency Li Ruihuan, Chairman of the National Committee of CPPCC, visited Canada at the invitation of Speaker Gildas L. Molgat of the Senate of Canada. Mr. Li met with Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, Prime Minister Jean Chrietien, Speaker Gildas L. Molgat of the Senate and Speaker Gilbert Parent of the House of Commons. Besides Ottawa, Mr. Li visited Toronto, Victoria and Vancouver. In June, the Rt. Hon.Beverley McLachlin, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, visited China. In July 1997, the Hon. Lloyd Axworthy, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, Visited China.
(Chinese Foreign Ministry, November, 2003)
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