Vina Nadjibulla is vice-president of research and strategy at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.

Prime Minister Mark Carney shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the start of a meeting in Gyeongju on Oct. 31, 2025.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to China marks a significant milestone in this country’s relations with Beijing. It signals Ottawa’s intent to improve a strained relationship at a moment when Canada is also navigating threats from the Trump administration.

From Ottawa’s perspective, the objectives are clear and pragmatic: explore trade and investment opportunities, and ease trade frictions, especially China’s tariffs on Canadian canola, pork and seafood. While the trip could serve Canadian interests, its success should be judged not by the optics of a renewed “strategic partnership,” but by whether Mr. Carney can secure specific economic gains without weakening Canada’s long-term security and strategic autonomy. To do so, he will need to manage three things: resist Beijing’s pressure for political compliance, keep economic security and resilience front and centre, and strengthen national security guardrails.

Reducing Canada’s over-reliance on the U.S. and diversifying economic partnerships are strategic necessities. But diversification does not mean indiscriminate engagement,........

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