On May 11, 2009, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi held talks in the Foreign Ministry with his Canadian counterpart Lawrence Cannon, who is here for an official visit.

Yang expressed welcome for Cannon's visit to China, saying that China and Canada, being important nations of the Asia-Pacific region, shared broad common interests in developing domestic economies and promoting regional and world peace, stability and development. The two countries have maintained high-level exchanges and achieved positive progress in the cooperation of economy and trade, culture, education, technology, health and environment protection since last year, Yang said. "We also maintained close communication and coordination on major international and regional issues," he added. In the current international situation, closer friendly cooperation between China and Canada is in line with the trends of the times and is also in the fundamental interest of both countries and their peoples. Yang said China would strengthen friendly exchanges with Canada in all areas, deepen practical cooperation and properly handle sensitive issues between the two nations, in an effort to push for sound, stable development of bilateral ties.

Cannon said Canada paid great attention to bilateral ties and adhered to the one-China policy, adding Canada appreciated China's positive role in the international affairs. Canada would make joint efforts with China to promote cooperation in a wide variety of areas including economy, trade, public health and environment and enhance coordination on global issues, in a bid to cement and advance bilateral ties, Cannon said.

Both sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.