ROME (ITALY) – Canada’s Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne held talks with his Chinese counterpart, state councillor Wang Yi, in Rome on Tuesday and urged him to secure the release of two Canadians detained by Beijing.
An official said Champagne also raised Ottawa’s opposition to Beijing’s handling of Hong Kong.
The Canadian minister, who is in Europe on an official visit, held discussions with Wang in a hotel for almost 90 minutes. It was their first talks since the duo held discussions in Japan last year.
Sino-Canadian ties were strained when Ottawa detained Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, in December 2018 based on a US extradition pact.
Soon after this incident, Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig were arrested in China on charges of espionage.
“Minister Champagne again reiterated that the cases of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor remain a top priority … and that Canada continues to call on China to immediately release both men,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
According to Beijing, Wang told Champagne that Ottawa’s unprovoked detention of Chinese citizens caused “serious difficulties” in the bilateral ties, adding that Canada should take action immediately to remove impediments to the further development of China-Canada ties.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field.
