Ottawa, Jan 11 (NationPress) The US-based organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) is calling on Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to prioritize human rights during his upcoming trip to China from January 13-17. They are urging him to advocate for an end to the repression in Xinjiang and to ensure that China adheres to international labour rights conventions.

HRW emphasized that Carney should address critical matters, such as the connections between the forced labor practices of the Chinese government and imports to Canada, the ongoing persecution and imprisonment of human rights defenders, and the targeting of critics abroad, including those residing in Canada.

In a statement, HRW's Deputy Asia Director, Maya Wang, stated: "Prime Minister Carney needs to understand that the increasing repression by the Chinese government threatens not only the rights of individuals in China but also the fundamental interests and values of Canada."

"Carney must ensure that discussions with the Chinese government on trade and security align with Canada’s values, particularly the promotion of human rights."

This visit marks the first time in over eight years that a Canadian Prime Minister has traveled to China. Relations between the two nations have deteriorated in recent years as Chinese President Xi Jinping has intensified repression both domestically and internationally.

The Canadian government’s announcement regarding Carney's visit indicated that it aims to enhance economic resilience and reduce dependency on the United States by improving trade, energy, agriculture, and international security ties with China. However, the statement notably lacked any reference to human rights.

HRW remarked: "Carney should insist that the Chinese government cease its repression in Xinjiang and ensure full adherence to the international labour rights conventions that China has recently ratified, which include the ILO Convention No. 29 on forced labor and ILO Convention No. 105 on state-imposed forced labor."

HRW highlighted that the abuses of labour rights by the Chinese government extend beyond the Uyghur region. Their laws prohibit independent labor unions and include the detention and imprisonment of labor activists, suppression of labor protests, and the closure of labor monitoring organizations in Hong Kong.

The Chinese government has significantly curtailed freedoms related to expression, association, and assembly, alongside free and fair elections, fair trial rights, and judicial independence in Hong Kong, where approximately 300,000 Canadians live. Additionally, China has engaged in cross-border oppression, referred to as transnational repression, targeting critics of the government residing in other countries, including Canadian citizens.