OTTAWA, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon said on Wednesday that he believed the strong relationship between Canada and China will be further strengthened in the coming years.

    Speaking at a Chinese embassy reception marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), the minister recalled the decades-long friendship between the two countries and congratulated the Chinese people on the achievements they have made since the founding of the PRC on Oct. 1, 1949.

    "I would like to warmly congratulate the people of China on the eve of this 60th anniversary. Tomorrow is a truly historic day, and our Chinese friends have reason to be proud of their achievements," Cannon said.

    Canada played a very supportive role in the history of PRC, the minister pointed out, citing Norman Bethune, who has been widely respected in China for his commitment to and sacrifice for a cause that led to the founding of the PRC.

    In 1960, when China was hit hard by famine, Canada lent a helping hand by shipping grain to China. A decade later, Canada and China established formal diplomatic relations. Since then, Canada has made a steady effort to help China deepen its engagement with the international community by supporting the restoration of China's legitimate seat at the United Nations, he said.

    Canada has also benefited enormously from its historical relations with China. Today, Chinese culture is widely-spread across Canada, enriching the daily life of the Canadian people. The Chinese language has become the third most widely spoken language in Canada after English and French, the minister said.

    Bilateral relations have gained more momentum since last year, when four Canadian ministers including the foreign minister himself visited China and a few Chinese ministers visited Canada, Cannon said during an interview with Xinhua before giving the speech.

    Through fruitful and important discussions, the two countries were further committed to a great commercial and trade potential between the two countries.

    "Canada has opened six new additional offices in China over the course of last year. We intend to continue opening those offices. So relations are going extremely well, we have to keep that on track," Cannon told Xinhua.

    In his address at the reception, the minister also noted the increasingly important and positive role that China has been playing on the international stage.

    "I am encouraged when I see China taking on an important role on multilateral economic forums such as the IMF, the G20, and regional development banks and in facing global challenges such as the A/H1N1 virus." he said.

    "The coming years will no doubt present us with new opportunities to work together and to deepen the intimate relationship that we have worked so hard to build together. By doing so I believe we will be able to overcome any challenges that come by our way," he said.

Special Report: 60th Anniversary of Founding of PRC