Page 9 - Michael Kovrig News Today

Beijing is seeking to improve relations with Ottawa after years of diplomatic unease, and though its not clear whether Canada is ready to play ball, some experts say there are practical reasons to look for better co-operation.

OTTAWA — Beijing is seeking to improve relations with Ottawa after years of diplomatic unease, and though it's not clear whether Canada is ready to play ball, some experts say there are practical reasons to look for better co-operation.

Though it's not clear whether Canada is ready to meet Beijing's requests, some experts say there are practical reasons to look for better co-operation.

This year has already marked an uptick in high-level talks.

The head of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) issued a burn notice for an intelligence assessment about possible foreign interference in a Toronto Liberal nomination race, according to a document tabled in the public inquiry into foreign interference.

The first week of public hearings into foreign interference, which will span a total of nine days, heard testimonies from Canadian diaspora groups, election officials and politicians targeted by China

The federal police force would not share how many investigations into foreign interference are currently underway.

Dong testified at foreign interference inquiry that he had always pressed Chinese diplomats for the early release of the two men

Former Liberal Han Dong met with international students from China and encouraged them to register as Liberal members during his nomination race in 2019 — but the MP didn't mention that to an ongoing federal inquiry into foreign meddling until he took the stand on Tuesday.

He conceded it was difficult to track hidden transactions because Election Canada only has access to overall campaign expenses and not all invoices and justifying documents