Trade Minister Stockwell Day paid an emotional tribute to victims of last year's earthquake in China's Sichuan province on Tuesday in what was both a message of condolence and an attempt to mend strained ties with the communist government.
Day is on a weeklong trade mission to China, during which he will meet with high-ranking Chinese officials to establish opportunities for Canadian businesses.
However, during a visit that was part fence-mending and part photo-op, Day became the first foreign dignitary to venture into Beichuan, one of the towns hardest hit by the quake that killed 80,000 people.
He laid a wreath among the rubble before telling onlookers that it was Canada's "honour to help the people here in the small way that we did," referring to the $75 million in aid Canada sent to China after the quake.
Day apologized to those listening for a long pause, during which he appeared to fight back tears as he surveyed collapsed buildings and homes.
"I'm sorry, it is difficult to speak," Day said. "We can almost hear the cries of the people."
During his visit, Day unveiled plans to build a seniors' home for quake survivors and played a game with children residing in a UNICEF camp.
All of the goodwill was meant to mend relations between the two countries, which became strained after the Conservative government criticized China's human rights record.
On Sunday, Day denied that his trip indicates that the Conservatives are shifting focus in China away from human rights to trade.
"This is a trade mission. We were meeting with representatives of twelve Canadian companies who are here promoting construction expertise, energy saving buildings in harsh climates. It's absolutely amazing what's going on here," Day told CTV's Question Period. "The opportunities are great and we will talk about everything."
While in China, Day is meeting with cabinet ministers and other government officials and will also open six new trade offices.
He is looking to build upon the $10.4 billion in exports Canada sent to China in 2008, which was up 9.1 per cent from the previous year.
Talks will focus on bilateral collaboration in a number of areas, including aerospace, agriculture, education, construction, oil and gas and pharmaceuticals.
The meetings appear to be going so well, Day said, that Chinese officials have talked about inviting Prime Minister Stephen Harper for what would be his first visit to China later this year.
With a report from CTV's Beijing Bureau Chief Steve Chao
