On December 11, 2024, Chinese Ambassador to Canada H.E. Wang Di paid a courtesy call to the Honourable, Greg Fergus, Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada.  

Ambassador Wang conveyed to Speaker Fergus the cordial greetings of H.E. Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress. He highlighted that China is ready to work with Canada to strengthen mutual visits and exchanges between the legislative bodies of the two countries, so as to enhance mutual understanding, and inject dynamism and vitality into the healthy and stable development of China-Canada relations. He noted that China and Canada enjoy profound traditional friendship and have had fruitful cooperation in various areas since establishment of diplomatic ties. He expressed his hope that Canada can work in the same direction with China and do more things that serve the shared interests of the two peoples, on the basis of right perception, mutual respect, seeking common ground while reserving difference, and mutually beneficial cooperation.   

Ambassador Wang stressed that no one can claim to be perfect in human rights protection; there is always room for improvement. China always attaches high importance to respecting and protecting human rights and puts the people front and center. It has found a path toward better human rights that reflects the trend of the times and fits our national realities and made historic progress in our human rights cause. China is ready to conduct human rights exchanges and cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual respect, and firmly opposes any acts of double standards and any interference in China’s internal affairs with human rights as a pretext. The Taiwan question is at the core of China’s core interests and the most important political foundation of China-Canada relations. The Chinese side hopes the Canadian side will earnestly abide by the one-China principle.  

Speaker Fergus conveyed his warm regards to Chairman Zhao Leji through Ambassador Wang and expressed readiness to strengthen legislative body exchanges with China. The Canadian side remains ready to maintain communication and dialogue with China on issues of mutual concern and conduct mutually beneficial cooperation on the basis of mutual respect. The Canadian side will continue to abide by the one-China policy.