Xi Jinping pulls up Canadian PM Trudeau on the sidelines of G-20

Angered, China’s head of state and party leader Xi Jinping complained to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the lack of privacy after a bilateral conversation in front of cameras.

Xi Jinping with Justin Trudeau in a video recording by a Canadian film crew. Frustrated, she accused them: “Everything we discussed yesterday was leaked to the newspapers. This is not fair.” The complaint was made during the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia.Xi Jinping continued: Negotiations should not be handled in this way.

Xi Jinping said that people who are serious should communicate with mutual respect. “Otherwise it is difficult to say what the result will be,” he warned. Trudeau responded, “In Canada, we believe in free, open and frank dialogue.” Perhaps the conversation can continue. He wants to work “constructively” with Xi Jinping. “But there will be things we will not agree on,” said the Canadian prime minister.

Canada-China relations tense

Xi Jinping looked angry and said, “Create the conditions.” He then shook hands with Trudeau, made a friendly face again, and left. This was the first meeting between Trudeau and Xi Jinping in more than three years. However, unlike Xi Jinping’s meetings with other heads of state and government, this was not declared an official meeting. According to press reports, Trudeau complained about Chinese interference in Canadian democracy during the talks.

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Relations are tense. Following the arrest of Huawei Telecom Group chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou in 2018 at the request of the United States, China arrested two Canadians and charged them with alleged espionage. Diplomats spoke of “hostage diplomacy”. After a long tussle involving US judicial officials, Meng Wanzhou was able to return to China in 2021 in a barter deal, after which the two Canadians were also released.