Chinese state councilor meets with Canadian FM

Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi (R) meets with Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird in Beijing, capital of China, July 4, 2013. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi met with Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird on Thursday.

China and Canada have enjoyed sound development of bilateral relations in recent years, Yang said during the meeting.

China is willing to work with Canada to deepen political mutual trust, strengthen mutually-beneficial and pragmatic cooperation, expand cultural exchanges and upgrade bilateral ties so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples, Yang said.

Baird said that Canada regards relations with China as one of the priorities of its foreign policy.

He expressed hopes of working with China to promote pragmatic cooperation between the two countries and make more progress in developing bilateral ties.

The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.