Anything to get out of town

China is finally on PM's agenda
Toronto Star
Editorial
Apr 9, 2009

The Chinese purchased 1 million cars last month, far more than recession-stunned Americans bought. They're a lot more bullish about the future than the rest of the world, polls show. The World Bank calls China's $4 trillion-plus economy "a bright spot" amid global gloom, poised for an early rebound later this year.

And one of the most-read articles in the People's Daily newspaper this week announced that 320,000 Chinese are now millionaires, many of them multi-millionaires.

So Prime Minister Stephen Harper has good reason to plan a long-overdue first visit to China next fall, on the heels of the Nov. 14-15 Asia Pacific leaders summit in Singapore. Business prospects are better in China than almost anywhere else. And the timing is politically right. Next year Canada and China mark 40 years of diplomatic relations.

Trade Minister Stockwell Day heads off next Tuesday to smoothe the way by meeting Chinese ministers, Communist officials and local notables, and to open new trade offices.

This flurry of high-level interest is a welcome change.

Canadian companies "enjoy a great reputation in China," in the words of Chinese ambassador Lan Lijun. Yet in his three years-plus in office, Harper has largely neglected China, even as our two-way trade has grown to $53 billion.

While Harper has met President Hu Jintao at various summits, and his ministers have made 14 visits, relations have been rocky. Harper wasn't at the Beijing Olympics and hasn't managed to balance Canada's concern for China's human rights record (think Tibet) with the need to enhance business contacts with what may soon be the world's second-largest economy. One hopes that Harper will now get the balance right, assuming that he is still PM next fall.

Harper should also consider reviving the Team Canada concept initiated by former prime minister Jean Chrétien, who led the premiers and high-powered business leaders to China and other countries to cut multi-billion-dollar deals. In China, the state controls much of the economy. Visiting foreign political leaders can open doors for business people that might otherwise stay closed.

With 1.4 million citizens of Chinese heritage, Canada should have a tremendous advantage in dealing with China. Recognizing that, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, Quebec Premier Jean Charest and Toronto Mayor David Miller have all visited China in recent times. Belatedly, Harper is following suit, hoping to set the stage for tripling our trade in the next decade. He has some catching up to do.