China and Canada Photo: VCG

Chinese Ambassador to Canada Cong Peiwu urged the Canadian side to seriously reflect on its mistakes, learn from its lessons, and work with the Chinese side to grasp the right direction for the development of China-Canada relations and bring the two countries' relations back on the right track as soon as possible. 

Cong made the remarks when speaking at an online reception held by the Chinese Embassy in Canada on Tuesday to celebrate the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. He also said that healthy and stable relations are for the common benefit of the people of the two countries.

Only by upholding principles of mutual respect and equal treatment will bilateral relations be heading in the right direction, according to Cong. 

The ambassador's speech was made following the release of Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou after she reached a landmark deal with the US Justice Department on Friday that allowed her to return to China and under which the senior executive of the Chinese company did not plead guilty. 

The deal marked the end of Meng's nearly three-year detention in Canada, and may help ease frozen China-Canada ties and friction between China and the US, experts said.

Speaking as the guest of honor, Canada senator Victor Oh said that China provided valuable experiences in fighting the COVID-19 epidemic and achieving economic recovery. While recent issues between the two countries were resolved, Canada is confident that, with mutual respect and equal treatment, Canada-China relations will definitely usher in a new situation.

At the reception, Deng Jiachang, head of the Chinese Freemasons of Ottawa, expressed deep concern about the regression in Canada-China relations in recent years. He said he is glad to see that issues have been solved and that he hopes relations between the two countries will return to the right track as soon as possible as this is the common expectation for all involved.

Global Times