Footage of a seriously awkward exchange between the Chinese President Xi Jinping and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the G20 summit has emerged.
Jinping, 69, was not happy that Trudeau, 50, had briefed the media about their meeting at the event in Bali and accused him of leaking sensitive information without his consent.
In footage of the exchange conducted through a translator and filmed by Canadian media, Trudeau looks visibly shocked at what he was being told.
He nods as the translator speaks to him while the Chinese president seemingly refuses to even make eye contact.
Advert
"Everything we discuss has been leaked to the paper, that’s not appropriate," Jinping said using a translator.
"And that's not the way the conversation was conducted. If there is sincerity, we can communicate well with mutual respect, otherwise the outcome will not be easy to tell."
Reacting to the rebuke, Trudeau explained his commitment to free speech.
He interrupted the Chinese translator, stating: "In Canada, we believe in free and open and frank dialogue and that is what we will continue to have.
Advert
"We will continue to look to work constructively together but there will be things we will disagree on."
The two leaders then frostily shook hands before going their separate ways.
Their meeting had been an informal one and therefore, there was obligation 'read out' of what was discussed to the press.
Advert
But this didn't stop the Canadian prime minister's team from letting it be known that he told the Chinese president of his 'serious concerns' about Chinese 'interference' in the country's politics.
The rebuke comes after China was accused of interfering in Canada's 2019 federal elections.
"I have raised the issue of interference with our citizens," Trudeau said of his meeting with Jinping, which followed years of strained relations between their countries.
Their meeting on Tuesday (16 November) was the first between the two men since 2019.
Advert
Trudeau told the Chinese president of his country's alleged interference in Canadian politics: "It is important to be able to have a dialogue about this."
He said China was playing 'aggressive games' when one of the country's news networks reported on a 'clandestine network' of Chinese-funded candidates in the federal election.
"It's extremely important we continue to stand up for the things that are important for Canadians," Trudeau said.
Advert
The Canadian prime minister also took the opportunity to bring up 'areas of mutual concern and geopolitical challenges', such as the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Topics:Â World News, Politics
Emma Guinness