BEIJING, Jan. 16 -- Canada and China are preparing to reap "historic" gains from a new strategic partnership, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Friday during talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

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Carney, the first Canadian prime minister to visit China since 2017, emphasized leveraging each country's strengths in areas such as agriculture, agri-food, energy, and finance. "It is important to start this new strategic partnership at a time of division," he told Xi, stressing the potential for "immediate and sustained progress."

The initiative comes after months of diplomatic efforts to restore ties following U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods and tensions in trade rel...