China envoy warns Canada against politicizing Nexen deal | Reuters.
[well, 'domestic politics', that would be "people", wouldn't it? wonder if China would also like to censor public discussion? Like Harper? mb]
Reuters) – China’s ambassador to Canada warned in remarks published on Saturday against allowing domestic politics to drive the Canadian government’s decision on whether to approve Chinese state-owned oil company CNOOC Ltd’s proposed $15.1 billion takeover of Canadian oil producer Nexen Inc.
“Business is business. It should not be politicized,” Ambassador Zhang Junsai said in an interview with Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper. “If we politicize all this, then we can’t do business.”
The CNOOC deal, if completed, would mark the first outright takeover of a large Canadian energy producer by a Chinese state-owned enterprise.
The ambassador also said negotiating a full free-trade agreement within a decade would be the best way of assuring fair, two-way trade and investment between China and Canada….
Although Canada is seeking substantial foreign investment in its oil and gas industry, the CNOOC move is raising concern inside the cabinet, where some members are wary of letting a Chinese state-owned enterprise buy up domestic assets.
Zhang said Canadian fears over China’s intentions are unfounded. “We are not coming to control your resources,” he said.
