China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that Canada could double its exports to China by 2030 during talks with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand in Ottawa. This rare visit marked the first by a Chinese foreign minister to Canada in a decade, reports Reuters.

Mr. Wang informed Ms. Anand that Canadian exports could rise by 100 percent, surpassing the country's target of a 50 percent increase by 2030. Anand emphasized that Canada is focused on diversifying trade and strengthening economic ties with China.

Mr. Wang's three-day visit included a meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney. Ms. Anand's office indicated that discussions covered trade, human rights, and foreign interference, describing the exchange as frank and constructive. Both sides agreed on the necessity for stable communication channels.

Canada and China signed a trade deal in January aimed at reducing tariffs on electric vehicles and canola. Carney, who visited China earlier this year, has sought to lessen reliance on the United States amid ongoing trade tensions with Washington. He has signed more than 20 economic and security agreements in the past year.

The visit occurred just days after the Canadian warship HMCS Charlottetown transited the Taiwan Strait. China expressed its opposition to any attempts to undermine its sovereignty under the pretext of freedom of navigation. Beijing continues to expand its military capabilities while asserting sovereignty over Taiwan and the strait.

Earlier in May, Canadian Conservative opposition MP Michael Chong visited Taiwan and met President Lai Ching-te. He stated that the trip was intended to show solidarity with Taiwan's democracy and to assert Canada's sovereignty, despite warnings from China's ambassador in Ottawa.