During their meeting in Ottawa on Thursday, Premier Li Keqiang and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed to:

— Initiate exploratory talks on a free trade area

— Share and return forfeited assets taken abroad by fugitive former officials, in China’s first agreement on asset recovery, considered to be a milestone in China’s international judicial cooperation

— Import Canadian bone-in beef

— Draft a joint plan for Canadian canola seed exports to China

— Collaborate on joint research, training and seminars to address the challenges of China’s aging population

Additionally:

— Sinoenergy Corp has committed to providing an additional $500 million to support operations of the Canadian intermediate oil and natural gas company Long Run Exploration.

— Iovate Health Sciences International Inc of Oakville, Ontario, and China’s Xiwang Food Stuffs Co have signed a share-purchase agreement worth $962 million.