00:00Okay, let's cross over to Insight anchor Hazenda Amin in Singapore with our next guest.
00:05And what a guest it is, Haz.
00:07Well, it is the Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister, Anita Anand, who's on a three-nation visit
00:13here in Singapore, in Asia. She was in India and headed towards China next. Minister, good to have
00:20you with us. You're coming at a time when we're seeing tit-for-tat trade wars in the U.S. and
00:25China. How are you navigating relations between the two sides? These are the two largest trading
00:31partners for Canada. It's such a good point. Canada is a Pacific nation ourselves. We have
00:36an Indo-Pacific strategy. We're doubling down on the Indo-Pacific, making sure that we're
00:41diversifying supply chains, building trading relationships across the region. Indeed, we're
00:48looking forward to an FTA with the ASEAN in 2026. So India, Singapore, China are all
00:57important in terms of our diversification strategy. And certainly my meeting today with
01:02Vivian Balakrishnan, the Foreign Minister of Singapore, was instrumental in our work here in
01:08the Asia. Of course, your visit to this part of the world comes against the backdrop of China imposing
01:14fresh curbs on us. We have Scott Basin calling on the G7 nations to come together for a
01:21coordinated response. Are you looking for a coordinated response for the U.S.?
01:26We have a free trade agreement with the United States that we're very much looking forward to reviewing in 2026.
01:36And in terms of multilateral trading relationships, we're the only G7 country that has a free trade agreement with every other G7 country.
01:44And as I said, the Indo-Pacific is extremely important. I'm just coming off a trip to India where we
01:51finalized a joint statement for cooperation on public security matters, but also on energy, on critical minerals, on resilient
02:00trade routes, on agriculture and agri-foods.
02:03But rare earths are an important issue for the world.
02:06Yes.
02:07Is Canada looking for a coordinated response with the U.S.? And how might a response look like?
02:13Well, Canada is actually looking out for our sovereign interests and our economic interests.
02:19Our diplomacy is very much about ensuring that our economic picture benefits from our diplomacy.
02:27And so, yes, we're talking about critical minerals internationally.
02:31We're talking about energy internationally.
02:34We're talking about Canada's depth and wealth in natural resources.
02:37So looking to be part of the response with the U.S.?
02:40Canada is right now the host of the G7.
02:43So across our government, various ministers are in touch with the G7 counterparts for sure.
02:50But I will say that we are also very much focused on our domestic economic interests and how we can further those interests by diversifying supply chains.
03:00This is why I'm in the Indo-Pacific right now.
03:03So what does that mean in terms of relations with China?
03:06How do you put Canadians first in your relations with China?
03:10Well, we actually do a significant amount of trade with China.
03:14After the United States, China is one of our largest trading partners, although with the United States it's at about 80 percent, so the relative number is smaller.
03:22But I will say that we need to open the ability to have a dialogue with China so that when there are issues of concern in the relationship, we can come to the table and raise them.
03:35I will say that we challenge China where we must and we cooperate with China where we can.
03:41That has been the strategy with China and it will continue to be.
03:44And what's the biggest challenge when it comes to your relations with China? What's key?
03:49It's a good question because the relationship is so complex. The key is to open the strategic dialogue.
03:56In addition, we need to allow trading to continue. We need to raise some issues relating to human rights and the South China Seas.
04:06But all in all, we need to be able to have that dialogue.
04:10Canadians are key for Canada to mend its ties with China.
04:15And some have suggested, especially those in West Canada, that perhaps you need to lift the tariffs on Chinese EVs.
04:23What are your thoughts on that? Is that on the table for Canada?
04:26As I said, as foreign minister, my role is to lay the foundation for the dialogue across a number of sectors with all countries, including China.
04:37That's why I was in India. That was part of my discussion with Vivian Balakrishnan this morning.
04:42And that is the message I'll be taking to China tomorrow.
04:45Again, Canada has depth in so many sectors, critical minerals, natural resources, energy, artificial intelligence.
04:53We cooperate with China where we can, say, in the area of climate change.
04:58We also need to raise issues of strategic importance to the Canadian economy.
05:03And that will be on the table tomorrow.
05:05Realistically, though, I mean, how much can be achieved in your visit?
05:08How much can you mend relations given outstanding issues between the two sides?
05:13I would say that with China, we have had many positive conversations.
05:19I just spoke with Minister Wang Yi in Kuala Lumpur in July, for example, and we had a constructive bilateral dialogue.
05:27And we will continue to have that constructive professional conversations as we must in the interests of our two countries and the global economy.
05:35Minister, we know that Canada wants to export more LNG and oil to China and some of the other Asian nations.
05:42Where are you with that? Have you had any sense of commitment from any of the nations here?
05:47Again, a great question given Canada's competitive advantage in LNG.
05:52We have demand from all over the world for our LNG.
05:56We've had a shipment leave the west coast of Canada, the coast of British Columbia.
06:01And we are continuing to develop our capacity for LNG, seeing significant interest.
06:09I have to say.
06:10Where from?
06:11Every country I speak with.
06:13Including the likes of.
06:14Is interested in Canadian LNG and Canadian energy, Canadian critical minerals.
06:20We have what the world wants in Canada.
06:23And now we are leveraging our competitive advantages.
06:26I'm not sure if you've heard, but we have ten large national projects.
06:30Including wind, including LNG, including nuclear energy with the development of an SMR at the Darlington Nuclear Plant.
06:40Countries around the world are asking how they can invest in these projects.
06:44And we welcome the interest.
06:47Minister, just to be sure that China has indicated that it wants more of the Canadian LNG and oil exports.
06:54Is that correct?
06:55I will have to get back to you after my conversation with Minister Wang Yi tomorrow.
06:59That is part of the conversation that we will have across the board, across sectors, making sure that we build the ability to have that strategic dialogue with China.
07:09We know that two Canadians were detained on the back of the Huawei issue.
07:13And one of the Canadians actually said that in terms of China's approach to Canada, it's hostile.
07:20That was the word being used.
07:22How do you respond to that?
07:23And how do you mend relations under subsequent circumstances?
07:26Well, we have to recognize that the global strategic environment has shifted significantly.
07:32The global economy has shifted significantly, and this is a time of economic stress.
07:39And so the key for Canada is to be able to raise issues of concern at the table, to challenge countries where we must, including China, and to cooperate where we can.
07:52Canada is a multilateral proponent.
07:55We believe in multilateralism.
07:57At a time when countries move towards protectionism and unilateralism, Canada is at the table.
08:04We will not retreat.
08:05We will continue to promote multilateral engagement across trade, across defense and security, and across global organizations, as we have seen and done since the end of the Second World War.
08:18As you said, you came from India.
08:20You had conversations with Prime Minister Modi.
08:22Yes.
08:23To what extent have relations been mended, given that relations took quite a ton in 2023?
08:30We are taking a step-by-step approach, a very systematic approach with India.
08:35At the foundation of that approach is a discussion about public security, ensuring that there is a law enforcement dialogue between the two countries.
08:45We also have an RCMP investigation occurring in Canada that is an independent investigation.
08:51Over and above that, we want to make sure that the economic relationship proceeds in this step-by-step manner.
08:58That's why we finalized that joint statement with India.
09:01Unprecedented.
09:02We have not signed a joint statement with India in years and years.
09:08Now we are together at the table talking about how we can cooperate bilaterally on trade, on our economies, in terms of critical minerals, energy, agriculture, AI, etc.
09:21Were there red lines stipulated by Ottawa?
09:25I mean, transnational repression is an issue.
09:28Yes.
09:29Where are you with that with India?
09:31In every conversation, I made sure to emphasize the importance of the rule of law, public security in Canada, and respect for the laws that govern our country.
09:44Because the protection and the safety of Canadian citizens is above all our priority as a government.
09:53In addition, on issues of foreign interference and on issues of transnational repression, of course, those are part of the conversation relating to the law enforcement dialogue and public security writ large.
10:06Minister Anand, always a pleasure to speak with you.
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