China will continue to make great efforts, together with Canada, to push forward their all-around co-operation partnership in the new century, said Premier Wen Jiabao in Ottawa on Thursday when meeting with Canada's key political figures.

At a meeting which analysts say will set the main direction of bilateral relations between China and Canada's new government, Wen told Paul Martin, who is the incoming Canadian Prime Minister and head of the Liberal Party, that consensus in a wide range of matters had been achieved between himself and Canadian leaders during his visit.

Wen briefed Martin on the four suggestions he raised when meeting with the outgoing Prime Minister Jean Chretien on the improvement of Sino-Canadian co-operation, including increasing high-level exchanges, setting up a ministerial co-ordination mechanism, strengthening co-operation in dealing with major affairs and in more fields including energy, environmental protection and finance.

Martin said the new Canadian Government under his leadership will pay great attention to relations with China and will stick firmly to the one-China policy.

The Canadian side will strengthen all-around trade co-operation with China, such as co-operation in a variety of forms in China's western regions, and work actively on consultation and co-ordination in dealing with international issues.

Prior to the meeting with Martin, Wen also met with outgoing Prime Minister Jean Chretien, Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson, Speaker of the Senate Dan Hays, and Speaker of the House of Commons Peter Milliken.

Expressing her warm welcome, Canada's Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson told the visiting Chinese Premier she has always paid attention to China's development.

Chinese Canadians have become an important force in multicultural Canadian society and will make contributions to the development of Canada-China relations, she said.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 33 years ago, the continuous expansion of exchanges and co-operation in various fields have delivered tangible benefits to both Chinese and Canadians, as well as having made a positive contribution to maintaining stability and peace in the Asia-Pacific region.

On Thursday afternoon, Wen also appeared at a luncheon hosted by the Canada-China Business Council in his honour and paid a visit to the headquarters of Nortel Networks, which is the largest telecommunications company in Canada.

Canada is the second leg of Premier Wen's four-country tour, which includes the United States, Mexico and Ethiopia and runs from December 7 to 16.

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