Canadian officials said they are optimistic that relations between Canada and China will continue to improve in 2026, bringing more opportunities to both countries.
The officials were among more than 200 attendees at the 2026 Canada-China Relations Outlook Forum in Toronto, held Thursday by the Chinese Embassy in Canada and the Consulate-General in Toronto.
"The relation between Canada and China is moving forward. I think that's really important. As I said, in my role as mayor in Richmond Hill, we have a huge Chinese population here, it's very dynamic, it's very business-oriented. We can leverage those folks to really help to make connections with businesses in China," said David West, mayor of Richmond Hill.
"I believe that Canadian exports to China will double this year. China needs Canada, and Canada needs China even more. This will create a win-win situation for both sides," said Victor Oh, former Canadian federal senator.
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 officials call for deepening ties with China
A catastrophic winter storm that began battering North America on Jan. 23 has now claimed more than 100 lives across the United States, with recovery efforts hampered by persistent power outages and a new round of severe weather forecast for the East Coast.
As of Saturday night, over 170,000 households remained without electricity nationwide, leaving vulnerable populations, including thousands of homeless people, struggling to find shelter from life-threatening cold.
The storm's fury intensified across the Southeast on Saturday, with blizzard conditions slamming North Carolina, Georgia, and South Carolina. In North Carolina, wind chill values dropped to about minus 10 degrees Celsius, forcing the closure of campsites, beaches, and sections of major expressways.
In Gastonia, North Carolina, heavy snow reduced visibility to dangerous levels, causing the collision of a train and a truck attempting to cross railway tracks. The truck sustained severe damage and its driver was injured.
The U.S. National Weather Service described the cold snap as exceptionally rare, noting that multiple regions have recorded all-time low temperatures. Southern Florida may experience the lowest temperatures since 1989 in the coming days.
Meteorologists warn that the East Coast is poised for another major winter storm, and the National Weather Service has already issued blizzard warnings for Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and several other states.
Over 100 dead as historic winter storm continues to batter U.S.
