Ottawa, Jan. 7, 2026
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will embark on his first official state visit to China next week, marking a significant diplomatic moment as Ottawa seeks to diversify export markets and improve relations with Beijing after years of tension. The trip is scheduled from January 13 to 17, 2026, and will be the first visit by a Canadian prime minister to China since 2017.
The visit comes as part of Carney’s broader strategy to shift Canada’s economic reliance away from its largest trading partner, the United States, and to pursue new opportunities in Asia amid heightened trade uncertainty back home. Canada’s office says that discussions during the China visit will focus on boosting trade, energy cooperation, agriculture, and international security.
In recent months, Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping have taken steps toward resetting what had become a strained bilateral relationship. The two leaders held their first formal talks in nearly eight years on the sidelines of the APEC summit in South Korea, where both sides expressed a willingness to address longstanding trade and diplomatic issues.
China has imposed retaliatory tariffs on Canadian products such as canola, seafood and pork in recent years, in response to Ottawa’s measures on Chinese electric vehicles and steel, creating economic friction that has hindered deeper cooperation. Carney’s mission to Beijing aims to build on the momentum from those earlier discussions and find “practical, constructive” pathways for progress that can benefit both economies.
The upcoming visit is also viewed through the lens of Canada’s changing global trade strategy. Carney has publicly underscored the need for Canada to double its non-U.S. exports over the next decade by engaging more deeply with large markets like China, India, and key Southeast Asian economies.
However, the diplomatic reset is not without challenges. Issues such as foreign interference, national security concerns, and differing political systems remain sensitive topics for Canadian policymakers. During earlier talks with Xi, Carney acknowledged that Beijing did not fully grasp Canadian concerns on these matters but emphasized the importance of dialogue.
Analysts say the visit symbolizes a cautious but strategic attempt by Canada to balance economic interests with geopolitical realities—seeking to secure growth opportunities abroad while addressing domestic and international considerations. As Carney prepares to land in Beijing next week, global markets, Ottawa’s trading partners, and business leaders will be watching closely for signs of how Canada’s China strategy might evolve in the year ahead.
