During these initial months, I would first and foremost endeavor to make my way up a very steep learning curve, as much about how to manage an embassy as about Canada/China relations. This curve is reflected in the comparatively sparse topical comments I initially make arising from my day-to-day activities. What Readers will find is a complete listing of scheduled meetings and so forth but less than fulsome background – or foreground for that matter – from me on the significance of day-to-day events. That would come in time. What I did have in hand however was a clear understanding of the objectives the Chrétien Government had set for its Embassy and Consulates on the ground in China…well, as clear as can be drawn from speeches by the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister and others in Cabinet, Government statements in the House of Commons and in the Senate, responses from Qs&As with the media, Departmental objectives and so forth. Close and personal were also specific DFAIT instructions addressed to me as Ambassador on priorities and expectations. Having been ADM covering Asia, I brought a degree of knowledge of Canada’s current China strategy but not the on-the-ground perspective of the Canada/China dynamic. That would come with time.

2001