Canada's espionage accusation against China baseless
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-04-21 15:08 Ottawa's accusation that China is conducting
economic espionage in Canada is baseless and not conducive to bilateral
relations, Chinese Ambassador Lu Shumin said here on Thursday.
"I can say responsibly that the so-called Chinese economic espionage against
Canada does not exist at all...It (the accusation) is not conducive to the
friendly relations and cooperation between our two countries," the ambassador
told Xinhua.
Lu's remarks came after Canadian Foreign Minister Peter MacKay alleged last
week that some 1,000 Chinese are conducting economic espionage in Canada,
stealing industry and technology information.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper raised the issue again on Thursday, declaring
MacKay's comments as well-founded.
"It should be pointed out that it is irresponsible and unfair that the
Canadian government has accused Chinese students and visiting scholars of being
spies based on hearsay news instead of hard evidence," the ambassador said.
The ambassador said that China-Canada relations had developed very smoothly
since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1970 and that the two countries
decided to upgrade the relations to strategic partnership last year.
He pointed out that it is natural that China and Canada have different views
on certain issues considering their differences in social systems, values and
national conditions.
But the important thing is that the two sides should address those issues in
a constructive manner and within the framework of the strategic partnership on
the basis of equality and mutual respect, he added.
The new Canadian government has pledged to attach great importance to
relations with China, and China highly appreciates this and is ready to work
with the Canadian side to further develop bilateral relations in various fields
to benefit both countries and both peoples, the ambassador said.
"I hope both sides could do more to promote the bilateral relationship
instead of hindering its development," he said.
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