Premier Li Keqiang and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held talks and jointly met the press at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Aug 31.

Premier Li introduced the results of previous meetings, saying that the relationship between the two countries, which has achieved historical development since the establishment of diplomatic relations 46 years ago, has a solid foundation and faces new development opportunities.

The Premier said the two leaders took a long-term perspective to set up an annual bilateral dialogue to optimize high-level dialogues on national security and rule of law and annual meetings of foreign ministers, to increase comprehensive mutual political trust and promote the rapid development of the bilateral relationship.

Premier Li noted the two economies are highly complementary with broad space for cooperation, especially in high technology and agriculture.

He said the two sides have reached a consensus to advance research on the feasibility of a free trade agreement, sending a clear message to international community that both will strive to push for trade and investment liberalization and facilitation.

China is endeavoring to deepen reforms and opening-up, said the Premier, hoping for the expansion of bilateral cooperation in trade and investment to unleash energy in this direction.

Premier Li stressed that common interests between the two sides far outweigh their differences.

China and Canada should keep a keen understanding of the general direction of bilateral relations, seek common ground while reserving difference, and take a firm hold of overall interests, which will benefit not only the two sides, but world peace and development, said the Premier.

Trudeau said that the talks with Premier Li have yielded fruitful results. He also said that Canada will continue to insist on mutual respect based on the traditional friendship, take further steps to explore the potential of cooperation, expand fields of cooperation, and establish a closer partnership.

Trudeau said that the two sides have agreed to set up the mechanism for the highest level of dialogue, to broaden trade and investment with more cooperation in such areas as agriculture, energy, clean energy and innovation, promote people-to-people communication and exchanges in tourism and culture, enhance coordination in climate change, environmental protection, peacekeeping and other global issues, with efforts to bring benefits to people of the two countries and the rest of the world.