NEW YORK, Sept. 23 -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday said China is willing to make more active and practical efforts with Canada to promote further improvement of bilateral relations.

Li, who is in New York to attend the general debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, made the remarks in his meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

He also called on both sides to steadily steer their ties onto a track of healthy, stable and sustainable development.

Li said that recently, China and Canada have been promoting the improvement and development of their bilateral relations in a practical and constructive manner, which has been widely welcomed by all sectors in both countries.

Taking the opportunities of the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of their strategic partnership this year, China is willing to work together with Canada in a spirit of responsibility toward our two peoples and the bilateral relationship, Li noted.

China hopes the Canadian side can adopt a correct perception of China, and respect each other's core interests and major concerns to cement the political foundation for the development of bilateral cooperation and ties, said the Chinese premier.

China supports closer exchanges between the two countries' governments, political parties, legislatures and local authorities, as well as people-to-people and youth communication, so as to enhance understanding and increase mutual trust through dialogue and exchanges, he said.

China has long been Canada's second-largest trading partner, and bilateral trade has seen rapid growth since the beginning of this year, noted Li, stressing that China is ready to work with Canada to maintain and develop the positive momentum, while addressing each other's economic and trade concerns through dialogue and consultation.

Li called on the two sides to deepen and expand mutually beneficial cooperation in energy, green development, tourism and other fields, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples.

He also expressed the hope that Canada will provide a fair and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies in Canada.

With a host of new developments in the current international landscape, notably the rise of unilateralism and protectionism and the proliferation of trade restrictions, Li said, the international community should enhance solidarity and join hands in responding to risks and challenges.

He voiced China's readiness to enhance communication and coordination with Canada to jointly promote economic globalization and free trade, support the reform and development of the World Trade Organization, and work toward building an open world economy to better safeguard the common interests of the international community.

For his part, Carney said that since the constructive phone conversation with Li in June, contacts and cooperation between the diplomatic, economic and trade departments of the two countries have gradually increased with encouraging momentum.

As this year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Canada and China, Carney said Canada firmly adheres to the one-China policy.

Carney voiced hope of strengthening dialogue and exchanges at various levels with China, promoting practical cooperation in areas such as trade, energy, agriculture, manufacturing, finance, health and tourism, expanding people-to-people exchanges and deepening the friendship between the two peoples so as to push for the growth of the Canada-China strategic partnership and lift it to a higher level.

Canada, he said, is ready to maintain close multilateral communication and collaboration with China, uphold the rules of the World Trade Organization and the multilateral trading system, and make joint efforts to address global challenges such as climate change.