Friday, October 12, 2012

Canada's Harper says must weigh national security in China ties

DAKAR (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on Friday that Canada wants a growing relationship with China, but that investments must be scrutinized from a national security perspective.

Ottawa has indicated strongly that it would exclude Chinese telecom equipment giant Huawei Technologies Co Lrd from helping to build a secure Canadian government communications network because of possible security risks.

Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper speaks to UN officials about food security and security issues in West Africa's Sahel region, in Dakar October 11, 2012. REUTERS/Joe Penney

"We will ensure as a government that we have not only a growing relationship with China but a relationship with China that is in Canada's best interests," Harper said on a visit to Dakar, Senegal. "And of course (...) there's a national security dimension to this relationship, in fact to all our activities, that we take very seriously."

(Reporting by Joe Penney; Writing by Richard Valdmanis; Editing by David Lewis)

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Friday, October 12, 2012

Canada's Harper says must weigh national security in China ties