Chinese Premier Li Keqiang was in Montreal on Friday to talk business… and a little hockey.
At an event hosted by the Canada-China Business Council, Keqiang was accompanied by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard.
Li called for a new golden decade of Canada-China relations, saying the two nations have no excuse not to create “win-win” co-operation and spoke of doubling trade between the two countries over the next decade.
The premier said his visiting so quickly after Trudeau’s trip to China last month was an example of how rapidly relations are progressing between the two countries. He also said his country is serious about strengthening the rule of law on intellectual property protection.
Earlier in the day, Li paid a visit to the Bell Centre, where he sported a Canadiens jersey and dropped the puck at a pick-up game featuring 30 Chinese minor hockey players and some former Habs.
Among the Canadiens’ alums were Patrice Brisebois, Mathieu Dandenault and Gaston Gingras, who all travelled to China in January to take part in a hockey camp.
- With files from The Canadian Press
