China-Canada new strategic partnership brings new, reciprocal opportunities: experts

Canadian scholars have voiced strong support for advancing the new strategic partnership between China and Canada, saying that closer cooperation will unlock broad development opportunities for Canadian businesses, while a mutually beneficial economic and trade relationship will yield tangible gains for both sides.

From January 14 to 17, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney paid an official visit to China -- the first by a Canadian Prime Minister in eight years.

Canadian scholars spoke highly of the visit, noting that the highly complementary nature of the two economies is expected to bring substantial opportunities.

"It's a perfect compliment in my mind between Canada and China. If we're looking at Canada-China relations through that lens where there's a strategic relationship, I mean that suggests something more comprehensive moving forward. And I think if we have access to a large competitive market like China, whether it's initially canola and primary production, but perhaps we move up the value chain to services, it'll be a huge opportunity for Canadian companies," said Daniel Araya, senior fellow with the Center for International Governance Innovation (CIGI).

The scholars also pointed out that China's "dual circulation" strategy, which promotes synergy between domestic and international economic flows, has become an important pillar for global economic stability, creating new momentum for China-Canada trade cooperation.

"Over the last several years, China has explicitly stated that it pursues what they call a dual circulation model, so that they are expanding their own economy in their own ways and so on, and also focused on enlarging cooperation, trade, and interrelationships with the rest of the world. So obviously in this context, I think that Canada can have a role to play. China is looking, for example, and developing new quality productive forces. There's a lot of possible collaborations between Canada and China," said Radhika Desai, professor of the Department of Political Studies and director of the Geopolitical Economy Research Group, University of Manitoba.

Former Canadian diplomat Margaret Cornish highlighted that the positive development of China-Canada relations also reflects Canada's strategic independence in the face of external pressure. Reducing excessive reliance on any single country and pursuing diversified partnerships is a course that truly serves national interests, she noted.

"This departure from a continental orientation for Canada, so dependence and reliance on a major partner, the United States, we've now moved and he wants to move us to a global dependence on global environment and specifically to accept much bigger involvement with Europe and the rest of Asia, and certainly China," she said.

China-Canada new strategic partnership brings new, reciprocal opportunities: experts

The global energy crunch and its impacts on Southeast Asia are driving efforts to link the power grids of ASEAN member states, with officials and analysts saying the push could strengthen energy security and accelerate the shift to renewables.

For decades, the idea of an interconnected ASEAN power grid has been on the regional agenda. The current crisis in the wake of wars in Iran and other Gulf states has added urgency, highlighting both the region's diverse energy resources and its vulnerabilities.

Some countries in the region have abundant natural gas or hydropower, others hold vast solar potential, while countries like Singapore rely almost entirely on imports. Even power-producing nations at times face shortages, making cross-border supply an attractive solution.

"It will help us to strengthen our energy security. And of course, a diversified and cheaper supply of energy will boost our regional economic integration and economy. So I think everyone benefits from this," said Chheang Vannarith, chairman of the Cambodian National Assembly Advisory Council.

Malaysia, as ASEAN chair last year, pressed for stronger commitments. Analysts say the current crisis is sharpening focus on the issue.

"It is definitely a wake-up call. It acts as a catalyst. It is also our hope that the Philippines, as the chair of ASEAN this year, and given the circumstances that we are in today with the global energy crisis and the global supply crisis, that this agenda is put at the forefront of the ASEAN discussion," said Amir Fareed Raheem, geo-economist at KRA Group, an ASEAN-focused public affairs and political risk consultancy.

Even as the idea gains momentum, major challenges remain ahead in terms of agreeing on regulations, technical standards and pricing. Further out still are the more ambitious proposals, such as undersea cables to transmit hydropower from northern Malaysia to Singapore and beyond.

Despite the lingering questions, tangible progress is being made. Since 2022, a flagship pilot project has enabled hydropower from Laos to flow through Thailand and Malaysia to Singapore. An agreement signed earlier this year will double its maximum capacity.

"Eleven countries, [with] different systems, different pricing mechanisms. It has to be tested in smaller groupings first before it is scaled up to the whole ASEAN operating system," said Raheem.

With countries striving to expand renewable energy and the crisis straining supplies, consensus is building to move the ASEAN power grid from long-standing aspiration to practical reality.

ASEAN power grid integration gathers pace amid energy crisis