GYEONGJU — Prime Minister Mark Carney says he directly raised the issue of foreign interference with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their high-level meeting in South Korea, marking the first formal dialogue between Canadian and Chinese leaders in nearly eight years.
The meeting, held Friday on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, was described by both sides as a turning point in bilateral relations that have remained strained since 2017. Carney said the discussion was candid but constructive, emphasizing that Canada is committed to engaging with China where cooperation is possible — while standing firm on issues of national integrity and sovereignty.
“I made it clear that we must work together where there is common ground, but we must also respect each other’s differences,” Carney told reporters following the meeting.
The prime minister confirmed that he pressed Xi on the findings of Canada’s public inquiry into foreign interference, which earlier this year identified China as the leading source of attempts to influence Canadian democratic institutions and electoral processes. The inquiry concluded that Beijing sought to meddle in recent federal elections through covert funding and disinformation efforts — a conclusion that has cast a long shadow over Ottawa’s relations with Beijing.
Carney said he believes the Chinese government still underestimates how seriously Canadians view the issue. “I don’t think they fully understand how important this is to us,” he said, adding that open communication remains essential.
Despite the tensions, Carney stressed that the meeting also touched on areas of potential collaboration, including trade, climate action, and global stability. “We can disagree strongly on some issues and still find common ground on others,” he said.
The encounter was widely seen as an effort to reset the tone between the two nations — balancing diplomacy with a clear message that Canada’s democratic values and political independence are non-negotiable.