Canada, China agree to tighten trade ties, mull extradition pact

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (R) shakes hands with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang during a meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, September 22, 2016. REUTERS/Chris Wattie


OTTAWA Canada and China said on Thursday they will launch exploratory talks on a free trade agreement and explore a possible extradition treaty for Chinese fugitives from Canada, even as they announced agreements on beef and canola exports to China.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters the trade and extradition treaty talks were part of their goal to improve the relationship between the two countries, though Trudeau is already under fire from human rights activists for considering an extradition treaty.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren, Leah Schnurr and Andrea Hopkins; Editing by James Dalgleish)




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