Ottawa, January 26th—Song Tao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, met here today with Mathieu Bouchard and Elder Marques, Special Representatives and Senior Advisors to the Canadian Prime Minister.

Song introduced the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress, and spoke positively of relations between China and Canada. He expressed that both as countries with great influence in Asia-Pacific region, the enhancement of political mutual trust and strategic communication as well as expansion of practical cooperation between China and Canada not only conform to the common interests of both countries, but are conducive to regional and the world peace, stability and prosperity. As both ruling parties, the CPC and the Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) should strengthen exchanges, learn from each other, well implement the important consensus reached by leaders of both countries and intensify communication and cooperation in various fields, so as to further consolidate the political and public opinion foundation of China-Canada strategic partnership.

Bouchard and Marques thanked Song for introducing the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress, and said that the LPC government led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau regards relations with China as a priority of Canada’s diplomacy. It is hoped that both countries could deepen friendly communication and cooperation in such areas as government, political parties, people-to-people and cultural engagement, economy and trade, in a bid to better benefit the two peoples.