Prime Minister Stephen Harper's absence at the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games won't impact relations with China, said Trade Minister Michael Fortier.
Fortier, who was recently named to the trade portfolio, told CTV's Question Period Sunday that relations with China depend on more than the prime minister attending the Olympics.
"To assume that (just) because a person is there, then therefore trade and the relationship with that particular country will improve... is very naive," said Fortier.
"I think a relationship with a country is far more complex than that. I like the foundations of what we have with China."
Fortier was responding to criticism from the Liberals that Harper should attend the opening ceremonies.
"Canada has had a policy of constructive engagement with China for nearly 50 years. The Prime Minister has a responsibility to do the same," Liberal Foreign Affairs Critic Bob Rae said in a press release late last week.
"An important signal would be to attend the opening of the Beijing Olympics."
Following China's crackdown on protesters in Tibet, Harper said he would not attend the opening ceremonies on Aug. 8. However, the prime minister said he was not doing it out of protest but rather because of scheduling conflicts.
At the time, it appeared both U.S. President George Bush and French President Nicolas Sarkozy were also considering not going.
But, since then, both leaders have indicated they will attend.
Along with Harper, both Prime Minister Gordon Brown and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will not attend.
Although Harper won't attend, Canada is sending a delegation -- led by Foreign Affairs Minister David Emerson -- to the opening ceremonies.
"I am very much looking forward to attending the Games and supporting our Canadian athletes," Emerson said in a statement issued Monday. "It will be a tremendous experience to see them compete with the best in the world."
Emerson will be joined by Conservative MP Helena Guergis. They are scheduled to stay in China from August 7 to 11, and will meet Canadian athletes and tour the Olympic Village and the Canada Olympic House.
Still, Rae said Harper's "scheduling conflict" is "an excuse to appease the hard-line anti-China sentiments in his caucus without taking a position on China."
Harper has brushed off talks of a total boycott, saying the idea was ineffective.
He said a full boycott would only serve to harm the athletes who have been training for the Olympics.
