PM Harper Joins World Leaders In Congratulating China’s President

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By Tendar Tsering | March 16, 2013 8:09 PM EST

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper joined the world leaders Friday to congratulate the newly nominated China's President Xi Jinping.In a press statement, the Canadian prime minister who last December approved the $15.1 billion worth Calgary based global gas and oil company Nexen to be handed over to the China's State owned company CNOOC, congratulated Xi Jinping for officially getting appointed as President and Li Keqiang who was nominated as the country's premier Friday.

REUTERS
Xi Jinping, China's new president

"On behalf of the Government of Canada, I would like to congratulate Xi Jinping on becoming President of the People's Republic of China and Li Keqiang on becoming the country's Premier," said Stephen Harper in the statement.

As Xi Jinping formally took over the presidential seat Thursday, leaders from all over the world poured in with messages of felicitations.

"Canada and China enjoy a vibrant and wide-ranging relationship.  We are rapidly increasing commercial relations, we are actively cultivating people-to-people ties through growing exchanges of students and tourists, and we are expanding cooperation in culture and science. We also work together in key international forums, such as the G-20, to address global issues of common interest," said Stephen Harper.

Acknowledging outgoing President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao's contribution in strengthening the relationship between the two countries, Prime Minister Harper said that he is looking forward to working closely with the newly nominated Chinese leaders.

While leaders including President Barrack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, as well as the Chief of the United Nations Ban Ki Moon heartily welcomed the Chinese president, Tibetans in exile labeled the new president as a 'failure' and urged him to address the grievances of the people inside Tibet.

The second largest non-governmental Tibetan exile organization TWA (Tibetan Women's Association) Thursday released a short video clip  in which hundreds of Tibetan women appear to be shouting and appealing the president to resolve the ongoing humanitarian crisis inside Tibet where more than 105 Tibetans set themselves on fire in protest against the Beijing's government since 2009.  

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(Photo: REUTERS / Charlie Neibergall/Pool)
Xi Jinping, China's new president
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