International Trade Minister Stockwell Day is denying the Canadian government has changed its focus on China from human rights to trade, in an interview with CTV's Question Period.
Speaking Sunday from Beijing, where he's leading a weeklong trade mission, Day said he'll be looking at the "whole relationship" with China. But he underscored the main purpose for the trip is to drum up business for Canadian companies, which analysts say Ottawa has been late to the game.
"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 said. "The opportunities are great and we will talk about everything."
In the past, the government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper has sharply criticized China's human rights record, leading to strained relations between Canada and China, the world's third largest economy.
Day suggested the media has overblown any ill will between the governments, and has been selective in its criticism.
"When we talk about trade our friends in the media will say what about human rights. And when we talk about human rights our friends in the media say what about trade," he said.
"We're talking about the whole relationship. We're talking about the fact that China's economy will continue to grow this year and the opportunities for Canadian companies, for Canadian workers, are significant. And we want to make sure that those doors are open "
The international trade minister also dismissed suggestions that Canada has lagged behind other nations in cultivating new trade ties with China.
"Our two-way trade has been increasing every year up to and including 2008," he said, adding, "It's amazing what's happening over here. It's not just that businesses that are growing, they're actually growing cities here. They are building cities by the millions of people. And that means that they have infrastructure needs."
Canadian exports to China totalled $10.4 billion in 2008, up 9.1 per cent from the year previous.
Day is meeting with Chinese cabinet ministers and other Communist party officials, and will open six new trade offices in China, which is fast becoming a global economic powerhouse.
During talks so far, Day and Chinese officials spoke about bilateral collaboration in a number of areas including aerospace, agriculture, education, construction, oil and gas information and communications technologies and pharmaceuticals.
Analysts say the Conservatives' past approach to China has left Canada behind the pack in terms of trade. Charles Burton, a research associate at the Canadian International Council, said Ottawa has some catching up to do.
"I think we've lost time. There is enormous competition from many countries to connect to China," he told Question Period.
"What we've really lost is leadership for a period of time on the big-picture game with China, which is not just about trade and selling products into a Chinese market. It's about the restructuring of the Canadian economy in response to global Asia, which China is a part."
Still, other analysts say Ottawa is moving in the right direction.
"Mr. Day's visit symbolizes the end of an approach of the Conservative government of cool politics, warm economics," said Paul Evans, a professor at the University of British Columbia.
"And a movement towards looking at the multiple dimensions, what Mr. Day rightly called a holistic approach to China, this has not been the hallmark of the government so far and symbolizes, I think, a recognition of how big and powerful our connections with China might be."
Day isn't ruling out raising human rights issues in his meetings. He said even Chinese leaders themselves seem to be more open about the subject.
"Last month it was interesting to hear Prime Minister Wen (Jiabao) talking about economic opportunities, but also about needs relating to human rights and other social issues. So the leadership in China talks openly about those things" Day said.
