PHNOM PENH, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Thursday spoke highly of the relations between China and Canada, saying China hopes to expand cooperation with Canada for further development of the relations.

Yang made the remarks at a meeting with Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird on the sidelines of the 19th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

Yang said senior leaders of both countries have reached major consensus on strengthening the strategic partnership between China and Canada, and the two countries have made steady progress in exchanges in the fields of trade and economic cooperation, energy and resources, education, culture, judicature and law enforcement.

It is China's hope that the two sides continue to promote the strategic partnership, expand mutually beneficial cooperation and cultural exchanges while respecting each other's major interests, properly handling such major sensitive issues as Tibet for healthy and steady development of bilateral relations, Yang said.

Baird said Canada attaches great importance to the relations with China and China's stance on related issues.

Canada hopes to improve economic cooperation with China, strengthen exchanges and cooperation under the framework of the multilateral mechanism and promote bilateral cooperation in education, culture, tourism and other fields.

The two ministers also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.