A Canadian delegation of parliamentarians met with Chinese government officials, in which the Canadian delegation claimed Canada can “learn” from China.
The delegation released a report detailing the meeting, which took place on August 27th, 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand.
At the time of the meeting, the Chinese government was cracking down on the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. The report reveals the Canadian delegation did not raise the issue of the Hong Kong protests.
The report was released by the Canada-China Legislative Association. Among those present for the meeting were former NDP MP Irene Mathyssen, Senator Joseph Day, Senator Victor Oh and Senator James Munson.
“Not only is this relationship important now, but it will become even more so in the future. There was recognition on both sides that China and Canada can learn from each other,” wrote the report.
The trip cost taxpayers approximately $52,066 according to Blacklock’s Reporter and the delegation has agreed to receive a Chinese delegation in Ottawa in 2020.
Hong Kong police are suspected to have used about 1,800 canisters of tear gas on innocent protesters since June 2019. The Chinese-backed police officers continue their crackdown efforts and have tear gassed crowds of people in residential areas.
In November, the chair of the international affairs committee of Hong Kong’s Democratic Party, Emily Lau, told Prime Minister Justin Trudeau he needed to get his “head examined” over his silence on the situation regarding the Hong Kong protests.
“There are priorities and this one is a pressing issue, you see it on the news every day. So, if the prime minister cannot find time to say something about it, his head needs examining,” said Lau.
The Liberal government has been relatively quiet regarding China’s domestic affairs, which include the interment of over one million Uyghur Muslim minorities in re-education camps.
The Chinese government has also arbitrarily held two Canadians in prison for over a year since December 10, 2018 in retaliation for the arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou who is wanted by U.S. authorities for allegedly breaking sanctions on Iran.
According to Chinese officials, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor will be facing “national security” charges.
