Canada and China: A half-century journey from Pierre Trudeau to Mark Carney

Canada, under Pierre Trudeau in the early 1970s, was among the first Western nations to recognize the communist government in China, nearly a decade ahead of the United States.A half-century later, relations soured under Trudeau's son, Justin.His successor, Prime Minister Mark Carney, is in Beijing this week in an attempt to rebuild relations after several years of frosty ties.Here is a look at the evolution of the relationship: Canada establishes ties with Beijing and ends diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

The switch takes place more than a year before U.S.President Richard Nixon's 1972 visit to China, which eventually leads to American recognition of the communist government in 1979, when the two nations established relations.Pierre Trudeau, who championed establishing diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, meets Mao Zedong, the founder of the communist state.

It is the first trip by a Canadian leader to the country since the Communist Party took power in 1949.Zhao Ziyang holds talks with Trudeau in the first visit by a Chinese premier to Canada since the establishment of diplomatic relations.The two governments sign an investment agreement.

Zhao meets U.S.President Ronald Reagan in Washington on the same trip.Prime Minister Jean Chrétien brings business leaders to China to expand trade, despite criticism of the government's bloody crackdown on the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989.

A backer of improved ties, Chrétien was in Beijing earlier this month to meet Chinese officials ahead of Carney's trip.New Canadian leader Stephen Harper initially takes a tough line on China over its human rights records.He angers the Beijing government in 2007 by meeting the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader who has fled China.

Harper later shifts to a more moderate approach, visiting China several times to promote trade.Popular ReadsState Department warns US citizens to leave VenezuelaJan 11, 10:28 PMMinneapolis ICE shooting updates: Protests remain ...