China Institute, University of Alberta (CIUA) - Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA) - Fourth Round of Track II Dialogue
In 2014, CIUA and CPIFA, in the presence of then Canadian Ambassador to China, Guy Saint-Jacques, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Track II Dialogue between CIUA and CPIFA. Previous rounds of the Dialogue have been held in Ottawa, Beijing and Banff.
The China Institute of the University of Alberta was established in 2005 with support of an endowment granted by the Province of Alberta. CPIFA was established in 1949, with Premier Zhou Enlai as its first President.
On November 4th, 2019 the 4th Round of the Canada-China Track II Dialogue was held in Dujiangyan, Sichuan Province, of the People's Republic of China.
The Canadian delegation to the 4th Round of the Canada China Track II Dialogue was as follows:
Gordon Houlden, Director, China Institute, University of Alberta, Head of Delegation
Hon. Allan Rock, President Emeritus and Professor of Law, University of Ottawa; Former Federal Minister of Justice, Health and Industry
Hon. John Baird, Senior Business Advisor, Bennett Jones; Former Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs, Environment, Transport/Infrastructure/Communities, Former President of the Treasury Board
Hon. Ted Menzies, Director, Agriculture for Life; Former Minister of State for Finance; Former Member of Parliament for Macleod; Former Parliamentary Secretary for Finance, International Trade and Canadian International Development Agency
Amb. Robert Wright, Canadian Ambassador to P.R. China (2005-2009); Former Deputy Minister of International Trade
Amb. Leonard Edwards, Distinguished Fellow, Centre for International Governance Innovation; Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and International Trade
Amb. Philip Calvert, Former Director General, North Asia; Former Canadian Ambassador to Thailand, Cambodia and Lao PDR
Jia Wang, Deputy Director, China Institute, University of Alberta
Yves Tiberghien, Professor of Political Science, Director Emeritus of the Institute of Asian Research and Executive Director of the China Council, University of British Columbia
Di Lu, Financial and Administrative Assistant, China Institute, University of Alberta
The Chinese delegation to the 4th Round of the Canada China Track II Dialogue was as follows:
Wang Chao, President of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs
Li Junru, Member of Standing Committee of the 11th CPPCC National Committee
Yao Yunzhu, Former Director of the China-US Defense Relations Center of Academy of Military Sciences
Zhao Weiping, Vice President of Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs
Zhang Junsai, Director General of the Administration of Diaoyutai State Guesthouse of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Chen Wenling, Chief Economist and Vice Director of China Center for International Economic Exchanges
Jiang Shan, Former Minister Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Canada
Li Yong, Senior Fellow and Standing Council Member at China Association of International Trade; Deputy Chair of CAIT's Expert Committee, and co-chair of The Center for US/Europe Economic and Strategic Studies; Standing Council Member of China Society of WTO Studies, and Member of Consultative and Advisory Committee for Economic and Trade Policies
Zhu Feng, Executive Director of China Center for Collaborative Innovation of the South China Sea Studies and Director of Institute of International Studies at Nanjing University
Li Ming, Deputy Director General of the Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs of MFA
The dialogue discussion covered three broad topics:
- Session I - Canada-China Relations
As expected, discussion of Canada-China political relations included extensive discussion led by the Canadian delegation on the ongoing detention of Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor by the PRC, who have been imprisoned since December, 2018. The Chinese delegation made detailed comments on the detention on an extradition warrant of Mme. Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver, on December 1, 2018 and Mme. Meng's inability to return to China due to the Canadian extradition proceedings. - Session II - Economic and Trade Cooperation
The focus of the Canadian delegation's comments on economic and trade cooperation centred on current issues related to export restrictions on Canadian agricultural exports to China, including canola, pork and beef. During the course of delegation's visit to China the PRC announced the lifting of limitations on Canadian pork and beef exports to China. - Session III - International and Regional Issues
This session's discussion focussed on the broad international environment, including US foreign policy, proliferation and arms control issues, and discussion of the international trading environment, including the World Trade Organization.
Following the Track II discussion in Dujiangyan, the Canadian delegation travelled to Beijing, where on November 6th the delegation met with the Canadian Embassy and Lu Kang the Director General for North America and Oceania of the PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
It is expected that the 5th Round of the Canada-China Track II Dialogue will be held in Canada in the Fall of 2020.
