Canada Moves From Reliance to Resilience as Prime Minister Carney Heads to China and Davos

Photo: Liberal Party of Canada / Handout

Canada’s new government is accelerating a shift in economic strategy — from dependence to resilience — as Prime Minister Mark Carney prepares for high-level visits to the People’s Republic of China and Switzerland aimed at diversifying trade, strengthening global partnerships, and attracting new investment.

The Prime Minister’s Office announced today that Carney will travel to the People’s Republic of China from January 13 to 17, followed by participation in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, from January 19 to 21.

The visits mark a clear signal of Canada’s intent to rebalance its economic relationships amid global trade disruptions and growing geopolitical uncertainty.

Re-engaging China After Nearly a Decade

During his China visit, Prime Minister Carney will meet with Xi Jinping, as well as Li Qiang, and senior government and business leaders. The meetings are expected to focus on trade diversification, energy, agriculture, and international security.

The trip is particularly notable as it represents the first visit to China by a Canadian Prime Minister since 2017, underscoring a recalibrated approach to engagement at a time when Canada is actively working to double non-U.S. exports.

China remains Canada’s second-largest single-country trading partner. In 2024, two-way merchandise trade totalled $118.7 billion, with Canadian exports valued at $29.9 billion and imports at $88.8 billion — figures that continue to shape Ottawa’s economic calculus.

Davos: Positioning Canada for Global Capital

Following the China visit, Prime Minister Carney will travel to Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, where he will meet with political leaders, CEOs, and global investors.

The government says Carney will use the Davos platform to position Canada as a premier destination for investment, highlighting competitive advantages in natural resources, agriculture, energy, and advanced technologies. The aim: translate global interest into concrete opportunities for Canadian workers and industries.

This will be Carney’s first participation in the World Economic Forum as Prime Minister.

A Broader Economic Reset

Officials framed the upcoming travel as part of a broader effort to build what they described as a “dense web” of international economic relationships — designed to reduce vulnerability to shocks, attract capital, and strengthen Canada’s economic independence.

In a statement accompanying the announcement, the Prime Minister emphasized the urgency of the moment:

“At a time of global trade disruption, Canada is focused on building a more competitive, sustainable, and independent economy. We’re forging new partnerships around the world to transform our economy from one that has been reliant on a single trade partner, to one that is stronger and more resilient to global shocks. We’re creating new partnerships in energy and trade, attracting massive new investment, and securing more opportunities for Canadians.” — The Rt. Hon. Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada

Additional details about the Prime Minister’s international engagements are expected to be released in the coming days.

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ONEST will be covering the Prime Minister’s engagements in Davos and closely following his meetings with global leaders and investors, with dedicated reporting for our Canadian readers on what these conversations mean for Canada’s economy, trade relationships, and global positioning.

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