Canadian agriculture minister seeks to deepen cooperation with China

OTTAWA, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Heath MacDonald said he is seeking to deepen agricultural trade cooperation between Canada and China.

MacDonald concluded his visit to China last week. In a news release on Monday, MacDonald said that Canada's relationship with China is "long-standing" and that China remains an important commercial market for Canadian businesses.

Canada is committed to engaging in "constructive dialogue" with China on bilateral trade matters, he said.

"Being in China allowed me to meet face-to-face with my counterparts, listen to our stakeholders, and see the opportunities and challenges firsthand," MacDonald said, adding that he is committed to keeping the conversation going.

China has long been Canada's second-largest trading partner, and trade between the two countries has grown rapidly this year.