On the evening of March 19, 2013, Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi held telephone talks with Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird.

Yang said recent years have witnessed good momentum in bilateral relations and increasingly converging interests between the two countries. China, he said, attaches great importance to developing relations with Canada, and believes that sound bilateral relationship is not only in the interests of the two countries and the two peoples, but also conducive to regional and world peace, stability and prosperity. China is ready to work with Canada to enhance political mutual trust, deepen pragmatic cooperation and accommodate each other's interests and concerns to push forward their strategic partnership, said Yang.

Baird said Canada lays great emphasis on developing ties with China, and offered his congratulations on the successful conclusion of last year's 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the "two sessions" of the national legislature and China's political advisory body this month. Canada, he said, is ready to strengthen contacts with China at top and other levels, expand practical cooperation in all fields, and conduct close dialogues and communication with China in regional and international affairs so as to bring bilateral ties to a higher level.