Harper's parliamentary secretary, Jason Kenney, has long been an outspoken critic of China's human rights record. He is also trying to get action on t

Chamber of Commerce urges government to engage more with China

Jennifer Ditchburn
September 12, 2006 - 4:03 p.m.

OTTAWA (CP) - The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is urging the Conservative government to improve its commercial ties with China, just as relations with the economic giant have hit a rough patch under Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Harper's parliamentary secretary, Jason Kenney, has long been an outspoken critic of China's human rights record. He is also trying to get action on the case of Huseyincan Celil, a Canadian citizen who is being held in a Chinese cell on terror charges.

While the chamber's report on Canada-China relations steers well clear of criticizing Harper's approach, it calls for an enhancement across the board in bilateral trade and investment as well as the appointment of a senior official to deal specifically with China.

"Policy decisions affecting China cannot be taken in isolation from their impact on trade and investment and are best dealt with through ongoing senior-level engagement between both countries," reads the report, released Tuesday in advance of the chamber's annual general meeting this weekend.