VANCOUVER
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne and Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu will host Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Vancouver on Nov. 8-9 for talks aimed at advancing economic cooperation.
The visit will include meetings of the Canada-China Economic and Financial Strategic Dialogue, the Department of Finance Canada said in a media advisory.
Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem and Superintendent of Financial Institutions Peter Routledge will also take part in the discussions.
The visit follows Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s trip to Canada in May and builds on both governments’ stated commitment to advance economic and trade cooperation.
Ottawa says the discussions also build on Prime Minister Mark Carney’s successful visit to China in January, which laid the groundwork for an updated strategic partnership, Minister Champagne's productive visit in April, and Minister Sidhu’s trip this week.
The government presents those exchanges as part of a broader strategy to pursue a pragmatic and constructive relationship with an important trading partner while supporting a stronger and more resilient Canadian economy.
China is Canada's second-largest customer globally for agriculture, forest products, and seafood products, with sales of approximately $10.2 billion in 2025.
Two-way merchandise trade between the two countries totalled $125.7 billion in 2025, with Canadian merchandise exports to China valued at $35.0 billion and imports at $90.6 billion.
The visit comes as Canada works to diversify its trade relationships. e2gold.ca reported this month that Prime Minister Carney was seeking to boost trade ties at a Commonwealth meeting, aiming to diversify Canada's trade away from the United States.
Canada and China share more than 55 years of diplomatic relations that include trade and investment, environment and climate change, education, and culture.
Strong people-to-people ties link Canada and China, with over 1.7 million Canadian residents being of Chinese origin.
Tourism flows and ongoing cultural exchanges enrich bilateral linkages, according to the Department of Finance.
In January 2026, Prime Minister Carney visited Beijing and announced an updated Canada-China Strategic Partnership, which was the first visit to China by a Canadian prime minister since 2017.
Media representatives are invited to cover the visit and attend key engagements in Vancouver.
Accreditation is open to journalists who are on assignment with a bona fide media organization.
Individuals performing journalistic functions who do not work for a media organization and are unable to provide a letter of assignment will have to provide proof of recent publications under the applicant’s by-line that can be readily found in the public realm and under a bona fide media organization.
Registration will close at 5:00 p.m. PT on November 6, 2026.
For security reasons, requests received after this deadline will not be granted, and accredited media representatives will be required to present valid government-issued identification upon arrival.
This story was written by the e2gold.ca newsroom from reporting by Department of Finance Canada and Traders Union. Quotes are checked word for word against that reporting.