Conservative Skepticism Cools Relations With China

CNPC vice-president Song Yiwu did himself no favours public relationswise when he contrasted the deliberate and methodical welcome his company received in Canada with its fiesta reception in Venezuela. "Fortunately, Venezuelan President [Hugo] Chavez is so warm-hearted -- there's a difference in attitude," Song said. "Yes, there are some ideological issues here, and if your people don't change your minds and be more inviting to us . . ." He left the threat hanging for his audience to fill in the blank. Chinese resource companies have become accustomed in the past few years to governments falling over themselves to offer blandishments and bending whatever rules necessary to make deals. So Canada's insistence on following established procedures for things like environmental assessments and consideration of aboriginal concerns looked like a brush-off. And to some extent it was. In comparison with Jean Chretien and Paul Martin Liberal governments, the Harper government is decidedly unfriendly towards China. http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=83446705-3287-4d5c-917c-65222a93c961

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