Image copyright AFP/Getty Images Image caption Canadian Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale described China’s proposal as “incoherent”
Canadian officials should approve Huawei Technologies’ bid to provide 5G network infrastructure for its neighbour, a top Chinese official has told a Canadian press conference.
Huawei’s ambitions to take part in this new generation of technology are being resisted by the United States.
Huawei has previously been targeted by Washington after alleged links to the Chinese government.
The firm says it has robust safety and security measures in place.
“Huawei is a global leader in network technology and hardware, both for public and private-sector enterprises. It has been a respected force for innovation throughout the world,” said Cheng Hua, the Chinese ambassador to Canada.
“In Canada, we have seen Huawei play a vital role in creating the fifth-generation [5G] communications network, and we believe that Canadian policymakers should support and assist Huawei in this effort.”
The ambassador’s comments come after China proposed last week to expand cooperation between the two countries in telecommunication and financial services.
Huawei is one of the world’s biggest telecoms companies, providing a variety of telecoms infrastructure.
On Monday, the US Senate approved legislation that would block Huawei and ZTE from receiving US government contracts or buying US technology.
This comes after the US Department of Commerce imposed further sanctions on Huawei in September, banning use of US technology in sectors from mobile telecommunications to aerospace.
Huawei denies it has any links to the Chinese government.
The company says it has strong cyber security measures in place and it has told the UN and the US government that it complies with global cybersecurity standards.
As tensions between China and the United States have risen, Huawei has been looking for a new home. In October, Huawei CEO Richard Yu said he was looking at at least three governments, but that none of them were the United States.