They briefly crossed paths at the G20 summit. What did they say?
President Xi Jinping bowed scolding Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau before the cameras during the 20 Summit in Indonesia, in a public incident rare that could complicate already tense bilateral relations.
Images taken on Wednesday by journalists on the island of Bali, where the leaders of the world’s 20 largest economies met, show Xi criticizing Trudeau. cordially but seriously,after the alleged leak in the press of details of a bilateral interview that they had held behind closed doors the day before.
The Canadian prime minister indicated that during the meeting he mentioned “the question of Chinese interference”, after Canada accused China of interfering in its democratic and judicial systems.
“Everything we talked about was leaked to the newspapers. It’s not appropriate“Xi Jinping tells Justin Trudeau, according to a nearly minute-long video posted on Twitter.
In a calm tone and with a smile, the president, who speaks in Chinese, adds: “And besides, that was not the way the discussion developed, was it?” His statements are translated into English by an interpreter.
“If there is sincerity (on his part), we should have a discussion based on mutual respect. If it is not the case,the result will be unpredictable“, Xi continues.
The Chinese president then apparently tries to leave, but the Canadian prime minister answers, even before hearing the translation of Xi Jinping’s words.
“in canada we believe in free, open and frank dialogue. And that’s what we’re going to continue to do,” Justin Trudeau said in English.
“We will continue to seek to work together constructively, but there will be things on which we will not agree,” he stresses.
With his hands up and open in front of him, Xi Jinping ends the conversation, telling him twice in a calm manner: “Create the conditions. Create the conditions (necessary to improve relations)”.
With a smile, Xi shakes hands with the Canadian prime minister and then part.
Beijing plays down
Asked this Thursday about the issue at a regular press point in Beijing, a spokeswoman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mao Ning, minimized the issue.
“The video (…) contained a short conversation between the leaders of two countries during the G20 summit. It’s normal,” he said.
“I don’t think this should be construed as criticism or scolding of any kind from President Xi,” he said.
The tone of the exchange was similar to that of “a ‘great’ power addressing a less great one”judges Van Jackson, professor of International Relations at the Victoria University of Wellington, in New Zealand.
“Xi’s language and position are not at all unusual – in private – for a conversation between government officials who are not on good terms,” said this expert.
The meeting on Tuesday between Xi Jinping and Justin Trudeau was the first face-to-face between the two leaders. since 2019.
Illegal Chinese Police Stations
The Canadian federal police said last Thursday that it was conducting an investigation into alleged “police stations” illegally established by China. in canada to control for example to its exiled or expatriate citizens.
Justin Trudeau also declared last week that China was engaged in “aggressive games”, after the Canadian channel Global News reported Chinese interference in the electoral process in Canada.
Relations between Canada and China have deteriorated sharply in recent years, especially since the 2018 detention in Vancouver of a Huawei executive on US orders, and the detention by Beijing of two Canadians in apparent retaliation.
The three they were released last year as part of a plea deal with US prosecutors, but the wounds have not healed.
AFP