Canada was one of the first Western countries to recognize communist China, establishing ties in 1970 under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. A half-century later, relations soured under Trudeau’s son, Justin. His successor, Prime Minister Mark Carney, is in Beijing this week to try to rebuild relations. The relationship has seen ups and downs over the years. Notable events include Trudeau's meeting with Mao Zedong in 1973, trade expansion efforts in the 1990s and tensions over human rights in the mid-2000s. Recent years have been marked by tit-for-tat detentions and tariff wars. Carney's trip to China could mark a turning point.
