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"China believes that all parties should stand on the side of fairness... and should defend international economic and trade rules and the multilateral trading system."

They will prompt individual deals with other nations - or compel some grand multilateral agreement.

Xi is portraying his country as a champion of free trade, a backer of multilateral institutions, and making comparisons with the world's other superpower which is seen as trashing both of these.

He is also chair of the Council of the Federation, a multilateral congress that includes all of Canada's provincial and territorial premiers.

The bigger strategic point is that Carney's background means a focus on international solidarity, and defence of the existing multilateral system.