The strategic partnership between the People's Republic of China and Canada maintained a sound momentum of growth in 2013.

The two countries enjoyed frequent high-level exchanges. From 18 to 24 October, Governor General David Johnston paid his first state visit to China and met with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang. Leaders of the two countries had discussions on bilateral relations and other topics, and reiterated that the two countries would deepen friendly cooperation in a wide range of areas to raise China-Canada strategic partnership to a new level. During the visit, relevant government departments and companies signed cooperation agreements on energy, mining, airplane purchasing and other areas. Governor General Johnston also visited Shanghai, Nanjing, Chengdu and Guangzhou and attended the opening ceremony of the 14th Western China International Fair in Chengdu. After the new leadership took office in China, Prime Minister Stephen Harper sent congratulatory messages to President Xi and Premier Li. On 2 April, Premier Li had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Harper to discuss bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest.

The two countries maintained frequent contacts at other levels as well. From 20 to 23 August, State Councilor and Minister of Defense General Chang Wanquan paid an official visit to Canada, and had meetings with Canadian Minister of National Defense Robert Nicholson and Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird. During the visit, the Initiative on Military Cooperation was signed between the two sides. On 3 June, Canadian Minister of National Defense Peter MacKay visited China, and had meetings with Vice President Li Yuanchao and State Councilor and Minister of Defense General Chang Wanquan. From 3 to 4 July, Foreign Minister John Baird paid an official visit to China, and had meetings with State Councilor Yang Jiechi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. From 9 to 19 October, Foreign Minister Baird paid another visit to China and visited Chengdu, Chongqing, Shanghai and Beijing; Executive Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui met with him. On 19 March, State Councilor Yang Jiechi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had telephone conversations with Foreign Minister Baird to discuss China-Canada relations and other issues. In 2013, a number of senior Chinese officials visited Canada, including Cai Mingzhao, Vice Minister of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, Minister of the International Communication Office of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Information Office of the State Council, Vice President Lu Shumin of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs, Vice Minister Pu Changcheng of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, Managing Vice President Zhao Shi of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Vice Minister Yu Hongjun of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, Commissioner Tian Lipu of the State Intellectual Property Office and Director Chen Jianmin of the China Earthquake Administration. Some Canadian cabinet ministers also visited China in 2013, including Minister of International Trade Ed Fast, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Gerry Ritz and Minister of Natural Resources Joe Oliver.

Practical cooperation between the two countries in various fields made further progress. Bilateral trade continued to grow and reached US$54.44 billion in 2013. China remained as Canada's second largest trading partner. China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) completed its acquisition of Nexen Inc. China and Canada signed the Memorandum of Understanding Between the National Development and Reform Commission of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Natural Resources of Canada Concerning a Dialogue for Cooperation on Mineral Resources, the Framework Agreement on Sustainable Energy Development Between the National Energy Administration of the People's Republic of China and Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Alberta. The two countries reached consensus on the text of the agreement on the return and sharing of the proceeds of crime. In 2013, a number of meetings were held between the two countries, including the 17th meeting of the Exchange Mechanism between the National People's Congress of China and the Parliament of Canada, the first working meeting of China-Canada Defense Coordination Dialogue, the sixth China-Canada Financial Sector Policy Dialogue, the fifth meeting of China-Canada Joint Committee on Technological Cooperation and the 10th meeting of the Working Group on Law Enforcement Cooperation. In March, a pair of giant pandas named Ershun and Damao provided by China for research cooperation settled down in Toronto, and Prime Minister and Ms. Harper attended the welcoming ceremony. The two countries launched a comprehensive program of holding cultural events in each other's country. Canada supported China in becoming a permanent observer of the Arctic Council. The two countries maintained close consultation on UN reform, the G20, climate change, the Iranian nuclear issue, Syria, the Korean nuclear issue and other regional and international issues.

Contacts at the sub-national level were active. A number of Chinese provincial officials visited Canada, including Secretary of the CPC Shanxi Provincial Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Shanxi Provincial People's Congress Yuan Chunqing, Mayor of Tianjin Huang Xingguo, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Tibet Autonomous Regional Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of Tibet Autonomous Regional People's Congress Padma Choling and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of Tibet Autonomous Regional People's Congress Wu Jinghui. Canadian provincial officials also visited China, including Premier of Ontario Province Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador Province Kathy Dunderdale, Premier of Alberta Province Alison Redford and Premier of British Columbia Province Christy Clark.