Canada, China can achieve win-win situation: think-tank expert

China

Canada, China can achieve win-win situation: think-tank expert

2026-01-17 16:28 Last Updated At：17:17

Canada and China can achieve a win-win situation as the two economies are structurally complementary, said a think-tank expert in an interview with the China Global Television Network (CGTN) on Saturday.

Paul Samson, president of the Center for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), an independent, non-partisan think-tank on global governance based in Canada, said despite that there are also some irritants in the Canada-China relations, he believes that the strategic dialogue between the two countries can solve the problems.

"The two economies are complementary structurally. They complement each other -- natural resources, energy, finished products. There's an easy win-win space there for Canada and China. We have some irritants, as well, that I think the strategic dialogue can start solving as well," he said.

Samson also said that he believes the government of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will roll back some of the tariffs imposed by Canada, which is in the interest of the country.

"The Carney government has the guts and the desire to do what's in Canada's interest. I think they will be willing to roll back tariffs. Right now, we've got tariffs imposed on Canadian goods from the United States and we have them imposed by China. Canada has got to find a way to negotiate with both simultaneously," he said.

Carney, who was on an official visit to China from Wednesday through Saturday, said on Friday that his visit to China had been "historic and productive" and that the two sides had made significant progress in several key areas, underscoring the importance of trade ties between the two countries.

China and Canada have reached specific arrangements to properly address trade issues related to electric vehicles, steel and aluminum products, canola, and agricultural and aquatic products, China's Commerce Ministry said on Friday.

The two sides have also reached positive consensus on increasing direct flights, improving the business environment, and inspection and quarantine of agricultural products, it said.

CGCC hosts Chinese New Year gala in New York to celebrate China-US collaboration across industries

The China General Chamber of Commerce-USA (CGCC-USA) on Thursday hosted the annual Chinese New Year gala in New York, bringing together diplomats and business leaders to celebrate the ongoing China-U.S. collaboration across industries.

Chairman of CGCC-USA Hu Wei and Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng, among others, attended the event.

"We want to deliver the message to the business community, to the policymakers of the two sides, and to the heads of state of the two sides. We do believe that the synergy between the two sides is there, especially in the business side. So, we do have opportunities to expand that market. So that's why we gather here. We try to get together to a brighter future," Hu said.

"In 2025, President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump spoke on the phone four times, exchanged several letters, and held a successful summit in Busan, recalibrating the course of the giant ship of the China-U.S. relationship," Xie said.

The event honored companies driving investment, innovation, and cross-border cooperation.

"I think that in general, companies like to do business with people where they can have relationships wherever they're from. And over the years, decades actually, in Vornado, we've had outstanding relationships with many of the Chinese banks, and they've been great supporters, partners. And so, I think as you get to know people and you go through the ups and downs on the life cycle of deals, you develop that shared friendship. And as we get through it, [we will] still do business many, many years later," said Michael Franco, president and CEO of Vornado Realty Trust, a real estate investment trust based in New York.

As the Year of the Horse draws close, CGCC emphasized that momentum and partnership remain key to strong China-U.S. relations.

"[No] one can tell the future, but the only certain solution for us is to enhance communication and cooperation. So, it's the only, the best solution for all of us," said Zhang Jianyu, vice chair of CGCC-USA.