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NEWS |
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| ELECTORNIC EDITION |
| 2006-12-02 |
| ·WEST ·EAST |
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GLOBAL CHINESE PRESS |
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Chretien calls Harper's China policy 'immature'
2006-12-02 23:47 CTV.ca News |  Former prime minister Jean Chretien addresses delegates at the Liberal leadership convention Saturday in Montreal. CP / Ryan Remiorz
Former Liberal prime minister Jean Chretien slammed Prime Minister Stephen Harper for what he called an "immature" policy towards China.
"I met 18 times with the president of China. I discussed human rights every time," he told delegates Saturday at the Liberal leadership convention in Montreal.
Claiming Canada had done much under his tenure to help advance human rights in China, Chretien said: "Engage them, don't insult them."
Harper told reporters at the end of last month's APEC summit in Hanoi, Vietnam: "... Although it was not a very long discussion, a very frank discussion with President Hu (Jintao) of China - a distinct impression, if I may say that, that the Chinese aren't used to that from a Canadian government, but I can't speak for them."
Prior to the meeting, Harper said he wouldn't "sell out" on human rights to promote trade and investment with China, one of the world's fastest-growing economies.
Chretien said it is the West, particularly British Columbia, "that is paying the price for this immature policy that runs the risk to destroy" efforts by previous Liberal and Progressive Conservative governments to cultivate a relationship with China.
In a veiled shot at Harper's meeting with Hu Jintao, Chretien said: "I met with the president of China so often I never had to wait at the door to the bathroom to talk to him as it was the case two weeks ago."
Speaking to CTV News after his speech, Chretien said the organizers asked him to deliver a pep talk.
The biggest cheer came when Chretien told the crowd, after listing a number of accomplishments, that the Liberals were the "party that said 'no' to war in Iraq. " Delegates to their feet rose to their feet.
The Canadian Alliance Party, then headed by Harper, favoured supporting the American-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
"I know that Prime Minister Harper was watching," Chretien said. "Perhaps he's still watching. And perhaps I should say: 'Stephen. Stephen. Can I call you 'Steve' like George W.?" That triggered more roars.
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