Premier Li Keqiang held a discussion with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Aug 31.

Trudeau came to China to attend next week’s G20 Leaders Summit in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.

Premier Li said China and Canada are important partners, both having significant influence in the Asia-Pacific region and the wider world.

China appreciates the efforts of Canada’s new government in developing relations with China, and is glad to expand the dialogue and cooperation with mutual respect and equality to enhance political trust, expand pragmatic cooperation, keep close people-to-people exchanges and open a new era of bilateral development, said the Premier.

He said the basis is solid, the future is bright and there is huge room for pragmatic cooperation between the two countries, and hopes Canada could lift the export restrictions against high-tech products to China, which will leverage complementary advantages of the two countries in technology and manufacturing.

The move will also provide cost-effective and high-tech products to the international market, expand cooperation opportunities in third-party markets and achieve win-win cooperation, he said.

He hopes the two countries will further strengthen people-to-people exchanges in all fields and provide more beneficial conditions to enhance understanding and promote cooperation.

Premier Li stressed that the development of bilateral relations not only brings benefits to the two countries, but also helps cope with global challenges and promotes the peace and development of the whole world.

China is glad to strengthen coordination with Canada under the framework of the United Nations and G20 to signal peace and stability in the international community and make contributions to the global economic recovery and growth, said Premier Li.

Trudeau said relations and cooperation between the two sides have generated fruitful results, which have significant influence on the two countries and the whole world.

China is a major economy in the world, whose economic and social achievements are admirable, and Canada is willing to work with the country to consolidate cooperation and make use of their own advantages to enhance the cooperation in international affairs and build a strong, positive and multi-layer partnership, said Trudeau.

He added the two countries will join hands to expand the international market, seek to initiate free trade negotiations and promote the continuous development of China-Canada and international trade by deepening cooperation in fields like high technology.

Before the talks, Premier Li held a welcome ceremony for Trudeau in front of the Great Hall of the People. And after the meeting, both of them witnessed the signing of several documents covering culture and environmental protection of the two countries.