By AP
Toronto, Canada – Canadian PM to visit China next week
TORONTO (AP) Canada's prime minister heads to China next week where he'll discuss Canada's vast oil reserves in a visit that's being viewed as an "open warning" to the United States government which rejected a pipeline from Canada to Texas.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be in Beijing and two other cities for bilateral meetings with top Chinese officials, including President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao from February 8th to the 11th.
Andrew MacDougall, Harper's spokesman, said Friday it's "absolutely in Canada's interests" to move the country's resources to China.
Five cabinet ministers, including the ministers of natural resources, trade and foreign affairs will make the trip with Harper.
Harper is determined to build a pipeline to Canada's Pacific Coast after U.S. President Barack Obama rejected the Keystone XL pipeline that would have taken o from Alberta through Cushing, Oklahoma to Texas.