Chinese President Xi Jinping and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discussed the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia. The two heads of government had previously had an informal bilateral meeting and the subjects discussed leaked to the Canadian press, which is why the Chinese representative was visibly irritated. The unease between the two was recorded and made public by the media in Canada.

“Everything we said was leaked (to the press). It’s not appropriate, it’s not how we operate. If you’re honest, we have to communicate with mutual respect,” Xi said. Jinping, quoted by the simultaneous translation of the interpreter.

The Prime Minister of Canada responded by saying that “in Canada, we believe in free and frank dialogue” and that he would like to work constructively with China, but that there may be points of disagreement. The Chinese did not specify whether he agreed, but felt that it would be necessary “to create the conditions for this first”.

Then the two separated with a quick handshake, without Xi Jinping looking directly at Trudeau.

On Twitter, Internet users commented on the discussion, especially since public indisposition between heads of state is rare.

According to the Canadian channel CBC, Trudeau reaffirmed, during a press conference held after the broadcast of the video, that the meeting with Xi Jinping dealt with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, North Korea and the holding of COP15 in Montreal. The Chinese government, on the other hand, did not comment on the meeting.

The prime minister also defended leaking to the press what the two discussed during the informal meeting. The meeting with Xi Jinping was not on Trudeau’s official agenda, which called for meetings with Presidents Emannuel Macron (France) and Alberto Fernández (Argentina) on the same day.

“I will not hesitate to be frank with Canadians, even when we are discussing important and sometimes sensitive issues. people need to understand. This is what Canadians will always do,” he said.