Prime Minister Stephen Harper leaves on a five-day trip China Wednesday to "reanimate" Canada's trade relations, experts say.
The trip comes after a tumultuous few months between the two countries.
First came the accusation of a Chinese cyberattack on the National Research Council in July.
Then a Canadian couple, Kevin and Julia Garratt were detained a few weeks later, when the Chinese accused them of spying.
Things took a more constructive tone recently, when Harper sat down with the Chinese ambassador to Canada to formally announce his third trip to China.
Originally, Harper planned to attend the APEC leaders' meeting in Beijing on Nov. 10-11. After the shooting of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo and the attack on Parliament Hill last month, the prime minister's office signalled that he'd change his travel plans.
Harper formally thanked the Chinese for understanding why he has to cut his trip short.
Despite the fact that the trip is short, the prime minister is still going, according to ex-ambassador David Mulroney, because he recognizes the importance of China, which many believe will have the world's largest economy in a few years.
China is now Canada's second largest trading partner, he points out.
Government officials say they expect many large commercial agreements to be signed on the trip, which includes a stop in Hangzhou and Beijing.
The delegation wants to help not just large companies, but also small and medium-sized businesses, benefit from the Chinese economy.
And there's speculation Canada will get a Chinese currency hub, so Canadian companies don't have to convert to U.S. dollars first, then to the yuan renminbi.
Advocates say this could inject billions into the Canadian economy.
Related Stories
