PM, Xi have ‘positive interactions’ at G20

Efforts continue for detained Canadians

OSAKA , Japan • Justin Trudeau and Chinese President Xi Jinping had “positive, constructive interactions” on the sidelines of the G20 summit on Friday as a dispute between the two countries rages, according to the prime minister’s office.

Trudeau spoke “more than once” to Xi during a meeting of the G20 leading economies in Osaka, said an official in Trudeau’s office.

The contact between the two leaders was the first since diplomatic and trade relations turned icy last December after Canadian police arrested Huawei’s Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. warrant.

Video footage from the meeting showed Trudeau and Xi speaking briefly through interpreters before shaking hands.

“There will likely be more opportunities ahead to have a conversation if needed,” said the official, who did not give any more details.

Earlier video footage from a working lunch on Friday showed the two leaders sitting beside each other but not interacting for several minutes while cameras were positioned on them. Trudeau could be seen making an effort to interact with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on his other side.

Trudeau and Xi greeted each other prior to the interaction in the footage, government officials said. They could also be seen interacting prior to a cultural performance distributed by host broadcaster NHK.

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said Friday that Canada is fortunate to have assembled a “broad international coalition” of countries who support Canada and believe arbitrary detentions are harmful.

Speaking to reporters alongside Finance Minister Bill Morneau, she said China has been hearing about the detention of two Canadians from a range of countries, adding that efforts continue at the summit.

In early December, Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig were taken into custody in arrests deemed “arbitrary” by the Canadian government.

At present, communication has proved to be difficult because the Chinese have indicated they have no interest in speaking with senior officials including Freeland or Trudeau.

To try to get through to China, Canada is now relying heavily on the influence of U.S. President Donald Trump to raise the issue in his own bilateral meeting with the Chinese president on Saturday.

The president committed to doing so following a meeting last week with Trudeau in Washington.