Minister Joly speaks with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today spoke with Wang Yi, China’s State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Minister Joly expressed her sympathies for the grieving families, loved ones and friends of the victims of Flight MU5735, which crashed in the Guangxi region on March 22, 2022.

During the call, Minister Joly raised the war in Ukraine and its devastating human cost. She highlighted that all countries should denounce Putin’s illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, which is in clear and direct violation of the United Nations Charter. As lives are at stake and time is of the essence, the minister stressed the importance of humanitarian efforts. The Minister noted that Canada and the world are closely looking at China’s actions and next steps.

On the Canada-China bilateral relationship, the Ministers discussed the challenges of recent years, including cases of arbitrary detention, and the importance of frank dialogue. With strong cultural and people-to-people ties, they discussed avenues of collaboration between the two countries on areas of mutual interest.

Minister Joly stated that Canada will continue to defend and promote values it has always stood up for, including, human rights and the rule of law, as Canada does consistently in its international engagement. Minister Joly reiterated Canada’s concerns with ongoing human rights violations in China, including in Xinjiang.

Minister Joly also raised consular matters.

The Ministers agreed to keep communication channels open.