GYEONGJU, South Korea/BEIJING — China’s President Xi Jinping met with Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday, with the leaders vowing to advance bilateral relations and Carney accepting Xi’s invitation to visit China.

They held a summit on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Gyeongju, South Korea, part of Carney’s tour of Asia in an effort to deepen trade and security ties in the region, at a time when Canada is struggling to lessen its dependence on the U.S. and seek new markets.

Canada remains embroiled in a bitter trade dispute with the United States, its biggest trading partner, followed by China. Carney has previously stressed the need to restart broad engagement with China after years of poor relations.

“Prime Minister Carney accepted President Xi’s invitation to visit China at a mutually convenient time,” Carney’s office said in a statement.

Carney and Xi discussed solutions on trade issues including agriculture and agri-food products, such as canola, as well as seafood and electric vehicles, Carney’s office said.

The leaders also discussed a framework to deepen cooperation across a range of areas – from energy, agriculture, manufacturing, climate change, and international finance, according to Carney’s office.

Xi Says China Is Willing to Work With Canada

Xi told Carney that China values Canada’s stated readiness to improve bilateral relations, according to state broadcaster CCTV, adding that China was willing to work with Canada to put ties back on track.

Both sides agreed to advance the resolution of specific economic and trade issues, and promote the development of the China–Canada strategic partnership, CCTV said.

Earlier on Friday, Carney told a business event at the APEC gatherings the world of rules-based liberalised trade and investment had passed, adding that Canada aimed to double its non-U.S. exports over the course of the next decade.

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(Reporting by Joyce Lee in Seoul and Ethan Wang in Beijing; Editing by Ros Russell)