Canada's new ambassador to China leads 1st consular visits with Spavor, Kovrig

Canada's new ambassador to China led his first consular visits with detained Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig over the past week, CBC News has learned.

A senior government source told CBC News on the condition of anonymity that Dominic Barton met with Spavoron Oct.28 and Kovrigon Oct.25 the first confirmation that Barton took part in the visits since he was named ambassador in early September.

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland told CBC's Power & Politics earlier this month that Barton's "accreditation has been accepted" and that he would beginto take part in the visits.

"That is a huge priority for himand we are getting monthly consular visits with Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor." Freeland said, adding that the meetingswere "very important" to the detained Canadians.

"They're important to their families.I think they're important to all Canadians," she said.

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Chinese officials detained Spavor and KovriginDecember 2018 following the RCMP's arrest of HuaweiChief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver.

According to Global Affairs Canada, Canadian officials have been granted consular accessto Spavorand Kovrig 13 times since their detention.

The federal agency said the purpose of such visits include assessingwell-being, providing legal guidance, determining the nature of the detention and helping detainees communicate with loved ones.

Global Affairs would not provide further information, citing provisions of the Privacy Act.

Following a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit this summer, Freelandsaid she hoped to keep negotiations between Canada and Chinabehind closed doors.

"The surest route to a successful outcome is for us not to be negotiating in public," she said in a statement.