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Toronto's mission to China next month will open the way for Canadians=
to discuss human rights issues with the Chinese, Mayor David Miller say=
s.
The comment followed questions yesterday about the timing of th=
e city's mission to China, scheduled for April 13 to 20, in the context =
of violent protests in Tibet against Chinese rule.
Five city offic=
ials, including Miller, will accompany 10 business and academic leaders =
on the trip to Toronto's sister city of Chongqing as well as Beijing and=
Shanghai. Miller noted Professor Bernie Frolic of York University will =
be lecturing on human rights at Chinese universities during the trip.
"It's very significant work, and this kind of mission allows th=
at opportunity," Miller said.
Councillors Michael Walker (War=
d 22, St. Paul's) and Cesar Palacio (Ward 17, Davenport) have filed a mo=
tion asking city council to condemn China's "gross violations"=
of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights, and asking the feder=
al government to consider boycotting the Beijing Olympics if repression =
continues in Tibet. It also calls for a trade ban against countries who =
violate the human rights declaration.
The motion doesn't ask Mill=
er to cancel his trip because council won't meet again until after he re=
turns.
Miller said promoting trade and the fight against climate c=
hange are other purposes of the trip.
"If we're going to addr=
ess climate change, we need very much to do work in China," he said=
.