The end of August 2003 strikes me as a good place to bring my narrative to a close. Covering 25 months – August ’01 to August ’03, I have strived to provide Readers a picture of what takes place at the delivery end of our Government’s China strategy and policies. These contribute to pursuing Canada’s national interests, those of governments, institutions, the private sector and even those of individuals. 

Having made that point, I am nevertheless adding the texts of two speeches I delivered near the conclusion of my 4 year assignment.

The first is the text of a presentation to a Heads of Mission gathering in Ottawa in March 2004. It’s title ‘China Strong, China Weak, China in Transition’ describes my take on the PRC’s current overall condition and standing in East Asia and beyond – economic, military, social and so forth. The second was delivered at the University of Victoria, also in the Spring of 2004, is titled ‘China’s Emerging Role in the Multilateral System’. 

By definition, bilateral relations are always conducted on a two-way street. I hope my narrative has reflected that reality. At different moments however, the two-way street is encumbered by roadblocks of various kinds, with consequences – political, economic, pointed and specific – that can far outweigh their causes. Over the decades, we have seen this as an ongoing feature of Canada’s relationships with China. Entirely by happenstance, my Colleagues and I worked in the Peoples Republic when bilateral problems could largely be managed, when not solved. Other Canadian Ambassadors were not so lucky. My narrative therefore must be understood as reflecting only one period – a productive and dynamic one – in the ongoing story and drama of the Canada-China relationship.

I will be forever grateful to the many Colleagues – Canadian and Chinese, with a sprinkling of third country Nationals  – whose work far exceeded mine in serving Canada and innumerable number of Canadians in the pursuit of their interests and objectives, as do our successors today…and every day. 

Joseph Caron
August 2025