Illustration: Liu Rui/GT Chinese Premier headed to the US for the United Nations General Assembly on Sunday, and has also planned official trips to Canada and Cuba. Economic cooperation with the two countries will be at the top of Li's agenda, especially at a time when global economies are confronted with difficulties of varying degrees. Canada and Cuba, not far away from the US, were chosen as Li's destinations for a number of reasons. Li's visit to Ottawa is less than a month after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau completed his first official trip to Beijing. Canada was one of the first Western countries to establish diplomatic ties with China, and the Beijing-Ottawa relationship has seen rapid development in the past 46 years. Li's visit was arranged out of the need to strengthen economic and trade ties with Canada. According to the official website of China's , the trade volume between Beijing and Ottawa reached $55.69 billion in 2015, with year-on-year growth of 0.9 percent. Canada invested $220 million in China and set up 378 new enterprises in 2015, covering tourism, telecommunications, real estate and other industries. Chinese direct non-financial investment in Canada reached $1.1 billion the same year. The two sides will take Li's visit as an opportunity to create favorable conditions for a more convenient trading environment. Chinese and Canadian officials will also explore the likelihood of a new mechanism to reduce regulatory barriers in two-way investment. The final stop of Li's trip, Cuba, is one of the few Communist countries in the world, and has a time-honored friendship with China. Li's Cuba visit is particularly significant as it is the first by a Chinese premier since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1960. Cuba restored its diplomatic relations with the US last year and has become much more open to the outside world. In this context, boosting China-Cuba economic and trade ties is of vital importance for both countries, and also an important issue on Li's agenda during his Cuba visit. Apart from Li, Cuban President Raul Castro will also receive Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe next week, who pledged to offer $9.76 million in grant aid to Havana for purchasing medical equipment. Some observers are concerned that Japan is competing against China in the Americas for support. In fact, Japan is a pragmatic country. It is economic interests, rather than geopolitical considerations, that have prompted Tokyo to strengthen ties with Havana. There is no need for China to be too concerned about Abe's Cuba visit. Cuba is also a time-honored friend with North Korea, and thus Abe may seek Havana's help in response to Pyongyang's missile and nuclear programs during his visit. The denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula may also be discussed between Chinese and Cuban officials, but is unlikely to be a major issue during Li's visit. While Li's trip to Canada is the first by a Chinese premier in 13 years, and the first in 56 years to Cuba, other top Chinese officials have paid regular visits to the two countries in past years. Li's visit to the two countries is of particular significance. It will give new impetus to China's economic cooperation with Canada and Cuba, help create a more convenient investment environment and eliminate regulatory obstacles in trading there. Li's visit will boost the Beijing-Ottawa and Beijing-Havana relationships to a new level, and strengthen China's ties with the Americas as well.
Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang, is to visit Canada and China to discuss trade deals, including the likelihood of a new mechanism to reduce regulatory barriers to mutual investment. Both countries have long-standing relationships with Cuba and have regularly received top Chinese officials, however, no Chinese premier has visited Canada or China in 13 and 56 years respectively.