Chinese President Xi Jinping has accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of behaving inappropriately by leaking the contents of a conversation between the two leaders to the media.
The allegations came as the pair crossed paths in a public space in Bali, Indonesia, where both leaders are attending the G20 summit.
“Everything we discuss has been leaked to the newspaper – that’s not appropriate,” Xi told Trudeau through an interpreter.
“This is not… the way the conversation was conducted. If there is sincerity on your part…” Xi said.
Trudeau interrupted the Chinese leader, telling him that even if they have disagreements, they should work together.
“We believe in free, open and frank dialogue and that’s what we’re going to continue to have. We’re going to continue to look to work together constructively, but there are going to be things that we’re going to disagree on and we’re going to have to…” Trudeau said earlier that Xi interrupted.
“Let’s create the conditions first,” Xi said, extending his hand to Trudeau, before the pair shuddered and parted.
Trudeau and Xi spoke briefly face-to-face on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali on Tuesday. After the unofficial meeting, the Prime Minister’s Office conducted a reading of the conversation that noted the issues that were discussed and who raised them.
During the brief discussion between the two leaders, who have been at odds over trade and the arrest and detention of two Canadians, Trudeau expressed concern about media reports that China covertly funded 11 candidates in the 2019 federal election.
The pair were pictured chatting informally in a packed room in a photograph released by the prime minister’s office to mark the meeting.
The Prime Minister’s Office released this photo of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chinese President Xi Jinping talking face-to-face on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia on Nov. 15. The day after that conversation, Xi accused Trudeau of improper leaking. details of his conversation with the media. (PMO)
“I will not shy away from being open with Canadians,” Trudeau
Trudeau’s conversation with Xi was not an official bilateral meeting like the ones Xi has had with other leaders, including US President Joe Biden, Argentine President Alberto Ángel Fernández and French President Emmanuel Macron.
The PMO said the two leaders also discussed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, North Korea’s continued aggression against South Korea and the upcoming COP15 summit in Montreal.
The readout does not say how Xi reacted to any of these issues, only that the two leaders “discussed the importance of continued dialogue.”
In his closing press conference, Trudeau responded to the incident, saying his government trusts its citizens want to be informed about the work it is doing on their behalf.
Watch: ‘I will not shy away from being open with Canadians’, Trudeau tells Xi:
“I will not shy away from being open with Canadians,” Trudeau
After meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Indonesia, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canadians deserve to know the nature of the talks “that we’re having on their behalf as a government.”
“I will not shy away from being open with Canadians, even as we talk about important and sometimes sensitive issues,” Trudeau said.
“Striking the balance between being open about the disagreements and issues that we raised, while being able to work constructively at the same time, is something that people need to understand is what Canadians will always do,” he said. add.
But NDP foreign affairs critic Heather McPherson said Trudeau caused a “diplomatic incident” and argued Canada should diversify its diplomatic and trade relationships.
“China is not a reliable trading partner, and it is important that we build strong relationships with other countries in the region,” he said in a media statement.
Trudeau also used his closing news conference to announce that the mission to train Ukrainian soldiers in Britain as part of so-called Operation Unifier, which has been underway since 2015, will be extended to end of 2023.
The announcement comes just days after Canada pledged an additional $500 million to support Ukraine’s military.
See: Innovation minister on Trudeau’s discussion with Chinese president
Innovation minister says Trudeau is ‘standing up for Canada’ in conversation with Chinese president
Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne reacts as Chinese President Xi Jinping accuses Justin Trudeau of leaking his conversation at the G20 summit.