Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon defended the Conservative government's track record with China on Sunday, saying Ottawa has "been extremely active" in pursuing trade opportunities and building a bilateral relationship that benefits Canadians.
But with the U.S. agreeing Saturday to co-operate with China on fighting climate change and bringing the global economy back under control, some critics question whether Canada's distant relationship with China is becoming a liability.
The U.S. even sent their top diplomat, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, to visit China, suggesting that Canada's most influential neighbour is making a concerted effort to tear down the walls between it and Beijing. Canada's prime minister, on the other hand, has yet to visit China since taking office just over three years ago.
"We have spent over $2 billion in this country to be able to make sure that we have an Asia-Pacific Gateway ready to take on the challenges of trade," Cannon said on CTV's Question Period.
"We've been extremely active, not only active in the sector of trade, but also active in the sector of promoting human rights," he added.
"And we will continue to do that on a principled approach -- not only with China, but as well with India, as well with Japan and South Korea."
Though neither he, nor Prime Minister Stephen Harper, has visited Beijing on government business, Cannon said both men have met with their Chinese counterparts outside of China.
"I have had the opportunity of meeting with their foreign affairs minister," Cannon said.
"The prime minister has had the opportunity in Peru, as a matter of fact, of meeting with President Hu (Jintao), and they had a good meeting," he added.
"We've been active there; we've got a couple of ministers who have been over there."
When asked when Harper intended to visit China, Cannon said the prime minister would visit "when we get an official offer from the government of China."
"I will be speaking with the minister of foreign affairs, very shortly, because I will be going to China, as a matter of fact, to be able to set the terrain for that kind of a meeting," he added.
Following Cannon's appearance on Question Period, Liberal foreign affairs critic Bob Rae and NDP foreign affairs critic Paul Dewar suggested the Conservative government had not been very successful in cultivating Canada's relationship with China.
Rae said the government had so far "missed the boat" when it came to reaching out to the country, but he believed it was not too late to improve its efforts.
"We have to engage with China and that's something that this government simply has not done," he said.
Dewar said the Canadian government hasn't been "constructively engaging with China" on major issues including trade and human rights.
With the Conservative government keeping its distance from Beijing, it makes it difficult for Canada to have any influence.
"You have to have the whole deal there: You have to have people on the ground, you have to have relationships made to have that constructive engagement," Dewar said.
With files from The Associated Press
