The Canada–China Cultural Dialogues returned to Ottawa on June 2 with a formal relaunch at the Canadian Museum of History, marking the first in‑person session of the initiative since before the pandemic. The theme, Building Cultural Connections, set the tone for an afternoon that brought together senior figures from government, diplomacy, museums and the arts to reaffirm a long‑standing commitment to cultural exchange between the two countries.
The Dialogues were first established in 2009 by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Canadian Fund for International Understanding through Culture. Conceived as a people‑to‑people platform supported by both governments but driven by civil society, the initiative has historically alternated between Canada and China and has focused on cultural heritage, creative industries, museum partnerships and youth engagement. Over the years, it has become one of the most durable channels of cultural diplomacy between the two countries.
The relaunch underscored that continuity. The program was co‑hosted by the Honourable Sheila Copps, former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, and Sun Tao, Director General of the Department of American and Oceanian Affairs at CPAFFC. Their presence signalled the intention to restore momentum to a dialogue that has been largely paused since the global disruptions of recent years.
The event drew a high‑level audience. Francis Bilodeau, Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage, attended alongside the Honourable Kody Blois, Member of Parliament and Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister Carney. China’s Ambassador to Canada, Wang Di, also participated, as did Dr. Nelly Ng, Chair of Can4Culture, and Yang Wanming, President of CPAFFC and head of the visiting Chinese delegation. Their collective presence reflected a shared interest in rebuilding cultural ties at a time when constructive engagement is increasingly valuable.
A central moment of the afternoon was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Can4Culture and CPAFFC. The agreement formally marked the relaunch of the Dialogues and reaffirmed the two organizations’ commitment to long‑term cooperation in cultural exchange, heritage preservation and creative collaboration.
Caroline Dromaguet, President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of History, spoke about the museum’s history of international partnerships and its longstanding connections with Chinese institutions. She emphasized the importance of cultural exchange in public education and in deepening understanding between societies. She was joined by Han Yigjie, Deputy Director of the National Museum of Chinese Writing, who highlighted the historical and cultural links between Canada and China, as well as opportunities for future collaboration in research, exhibitions, and cultural programming.
The program also featured voices from the arts, music, film and television sectors. Speakers reflected on the creative relationships that have continued informally through artists, educators and institutions, even during periods of limited official engagement. Many expressed optimism that the relaunch of the Dialogues would open the door to new partnerships, co‑productions and youth‑focused initiatives.
The Canadian Museum of History and Bank of China (Canada) served as supporting partners for the event, underscoring the role of cultural institutions and community organizations in sustaining people‑to‑people diplomacy.
While the Dialogues are not a political forum, they have long played an important role in maintaining constructive engagement between Canada and China. By focusing on shared cultural interests such as heritage, creativity and education, the platform offers a space for collaboration that is insulated from political cycles. The relaunch suggests that both sides see value in restoring these connections and in creating new opportunities for cultural exchange in the years ahead.
