Canada-China relations

Bilateral relations

Canada’s relationship with China is long-standing and dates from well before the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1970.

Canada is represented by an embassy in Beijing and consulates general in Chongqing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

We work with China at the federal, provincial, territorial and municipal levels. Areas of engagement include trade and investment, environment and climate change, education and culture, and consular affairs.

Cooperation

Through a variety of initiatives, Canada supports work in China on women and children, peaceful pluralism, respect for diversity, climate change, biodiversity loss, and global health. We are also actively promoting international norms and values. The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives provides small grants for projects across China that address environmental sustainability, good governance, civil society development, and rights protection for disadvantaged groups. The Canada-China Scholars’ Exchange Program (CCSEP), established in 1973, is Canada’s longest-standing bilateral scholarship initiative. Over the past 5 decades, it has supported more than 1,400 scholars to pursue studies and research, fostering academic collaboration and deeper mutual understanding.

Our connections

Strong people-to-people ties link Canada and China: over 1.8 million Canadian residents are of Chinese origin, and on December 31, 2024, approximately 100,000 Chinese citizens held valid study permits for studying at a Canadian educational institution for 6 months or longer. Mandarin is Canada’s fourth most spoken language after English and French, and immigrants born in China (including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) form one of the largest groups within Canada’s immigrant population. Tourism flows and ongoing cultural exchanges enrich bilateral linkages.

Trade relations

China is an important commercial market for Canadian businesses. The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service has identified commercial opportunities for Canadian companies in a number of key sectors. These include agriculture and agri-food, consumer products, natural resources and energy, and the environment.

In 2024, Canada’s bilateral merchandise trade with China totaled $118.7 billion (1.1% lower than in 2023). Merchandise exports of $29.9 billion to China accounted for 3.8% of Canada’s total merchandise exports in 2024. Canada’s services trade with China is also growing, with our bilateral services trade reaching $12.0 billion in 2024, (an 11.2% increase since 2023).

While recognizing the commercial potential in China for Canadian businesses, there are also associated risks including market access barriers, opaque regulations with uneven and arbitrary implementation, prevalent and persistent intellectual property theft, and the risk of diversion of sensitive goods and technologies intended for civilian use for military purposes and applications.

Canada proactively manages a strategic relationship with China on economic policy, trade policy, and market access, an effort supported in-country by a team of professionals drawn from Canadian federal departments and agencies, including Global Affairs Canada, Finance Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and Canada Border Services Agency.

The Joint Economic and Trade Commission

The Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETC) is an annual bilateral consultation mechanism for the promotion of trade and investment between Canada and China. By focusing on trade policy and the promotion of priority sectors, it allows senior officials on both sides to review the commercial relationship and seek opportunities to advance two-way trade. The last JETC was hosted in August 2025, in Ottawa.

Partnerships and organizations

To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and China work closely in multilateral fora, such as:

Date modified:: 2026-01-02

Language selection

Search