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NEWS |
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| ELECTORNIC EDITION |
| 2008-01-09 |
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GLOBAL CHINESE PRESS |
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Business with China can continue, Emerson says
2008-01-09 10:10 The Associated Press | BEIJING -- Canada will continue to address the issues of human rights and democracy in China, but that will not get in the way of a strengthening business relationship between the two countries, International Trade Minister David Emerson said Tuesday.
"We do make our views known and we're very open and candid with our views on human rights, democracy, rule of law and related kinds of issues and concerns," Emerson told reporters during a teleconference in Beijing.
"However, we do not think that that has to necessarily get in the way of carrying on trade, investment, building a strong commercial relationship."
Emerson wrapped up the first stage of his two-day visit to China Tuesday - part of a five-day tour that will also take him to Mongolia and Hong Kong - where he met with cabinet ministers responsible for technology, infrastructure and commerce.
Canada, just like many other Western countries, including the United States, has tried to walk a delicate line between publicly criticizing the Communist country's heavy hand on human rights and individual freedoms and strengthening economic and business relations with the world's fastest growing economy. China is currently Canada's second-largest trading partner after the United States.
Emerson's spokesperson, Francois Jubinville, confirmed the minister raised human rights issues during his meetings with China's Commerce Minister Chen Deming, but did not provide further details on what specific issues were discussed.
However, Emerson said the Chinese officials are open to hearing Canadian concerns.
"I would say this, that China in my opinion is as open as (it has) ever been to hearing our concerns and being prepared to listen to positive and constructive commentary about areas for improvement whether it's in the legal system or in dealing with electoral kinds of issues and democracy issues and economic freedoms."
Concerns about the human rights situation in China have gained a new momentum as the country prepares to host the Aug. 8-24 Olympics. The Games are a source of immense national pride in China, and Beijing - which is spending an estimated $40 billion for the Olympics - will be under the world's gaze as never before.
Some of the promises the Communist government made when it bid for the rights to the Olympics in 2001 were to allow greater media freedom and improve human rights. However, arrests of dissidents last year, a continued clampdown on free speech and evictions of residents living on Olympic sites have intensified criticism that China is not doing enough to deliver on its promises.
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