The appointment comes at a critical time in Canada’s political and economic relationship with China.
The two countries are pursuing closer trade ties and just signed a foreign investment promotion and protection agreement, while the Harper government is also reviewing a takeover bid of Canadian energy producer Nexen by a Chinese state-owned oil giant.
Most recently Canada’s climate-change ambassador, Saint-Jacques is fluent in Mandarin and quite familiar with the emerging superpower.
The appointment is his fourth posting to the People’s Republic of China, having previously served in Hong Kong and twice in Beijing.Baird said the appointment comes at a “very important time” in Sino-Canadian relations, and called Saint-Jacques one of the exceptional public servants of his generation.
“He’ll have close links right to the top, both with me and the prime minister, senior leadership of the public service and business communities here in Canada,” Baird told reporters in his office on Parliament Hill, where the two posed for a photo-op.
“The relationship with China is obviously a growing one,” he added, calling the posting “an important political and security position in that part of the world.”Saint-Jacques, who succeeds David Mulroney, said he looks forward to promoting Canadian interests and values in a country that is “key to our future prosperity.”
“There will be many challenges ahead on the trade and economic side,” Saint-Jacques said. “However, much work remains to ensure that our companies have greater access to the Chinese market and we have to continue to address very forcefully the present trade imbalance.”
“On the political side, I will want to promote a closer and frank dialogue on broad security issues and make progress on human rights and religious freedom.”
Saint-Jacques’s other international postings have included New York City, Mexico City, Kinshasa, Washington and London
Posted by Alisa F.
It's nice to hear about Canada for a change; sometimes we're so focused on everything that we forget our neighbors. And this article only further proves that China's really rising in the ranks, not just with the US but with other countries too.
ReplyDelete-Emma H.