Dharamshala, Jan. 14 -- Ahead of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's official visit to China, several leading human rights organisations and civil society groups in Canada have urged Ottawa to place human rights on par with trade and diplomatic engagement during talks with Beijing.

The visit will be the first by a Canadian prime minister since 2017 and is seen as an effort to reset strained bilateral ties while expanding Canada's economic engagement beyond its reliance on the United States, according to Phayul.

Rights groups have warned that renewed economic engagement should not come at the cost of ignoring what they describe as serious human rights violations by Chinese authorities, both within China and against dissidents and minor...