The issue of human rights was brought into focus during Prime Minister Paul Martin's visit to Beijing on Thursday.

Martin said that China has made "considerable progress" in improving its human rights record, adding:

"I believe the government does understand that you cannot have reforms in one section without having reforms in the area of human rights. It's an essential area of human progress.''

Martin is in Beijing to promote freer Canadian access to the roaring Chinese economy, and has signed several trade agreements with Canada's second-largest two-way trading partner after the United States.

But a state crackdown on media coverage of the death of a former Communist party leader pulled Martin's focus on the issue of China's checkered human rights past.

The death of Zhao Ziyang, who sympathized with the Tiananmen Square protests, has been suppressed in Chinese media all week. The official announcement of his death on Monday was not carried by radio and TV stations and was limited to a two-sentence report carried by websites and newspapers.

Internet searches of Zhao's name were blocked in the Canadian media hotel.

And on Thursday, a CTV News crew travelling with Martin was stopped by police from filming across the street from Zhao's home.

Police interrogated and almost arrested the crew, demanding they show their passports.

"If there was harassment of the press, that's wrong. I didn't see it, but if it's true, unacceptable," Martin said in reaction to the news.
The incident with the CTV crew occurred as Martin was meeting
with Chinese Premier Wen Jiaboa.

Martin didn't bring the issue of Zhao up with the premier, but said he raised the case of two Chinese-Canadian journalists who had their visitor's visas to China revoked, 48 hours before they were to join Martin's nine-day tour of south Asia.

Martin said later that the premier "heard me out but did not comment further."

Conservative MP Jason Kenney, on tour with Martin, said he planned to visit Zhao's house on Friday, without official permission.

Kenney challenged the prime minister to do the same.
"I think it would be an elegant way for the prime minister to express Canada's solidarity with human rights in the world's largest country by paying his respects to a former premier," said Kenney.

He added that the prime minister doesn't have a clue as to what's really going on in China.

"According to Amnesty International, things are getting worse," he said, pointing to the continued existence of forced labour camps, forced abortions and sterilization in China.

When asked if he would consider visiting Zhao's home, Martin appeared to agree before begging off for lack of time.

"I suppose, but that's not on the schedule at the present time," he said. "I'll talk to those who control my life, but I can just tell you it's not on the schedule at the present time."

Zhao helped launch China's economic boom, but was ousted in 1989 after the military crushed reform-minded protesters in Tiananmen Square -- killing hundreds and possibly thousands of people.

He was accused of "splitting the party" because he advocated a soft line against the demonstrations.

The rights issue appears destined to dog Martin as he completes the last leg of his Asia tour, which continues Friday with a meeting with President Hu Jintao.

Canada, China seal several deals

Before human rights overshadowed coverage of the PM's China trip, there was news of several trade agreements signed by Canada and China.

Martin, along with Trade Minister Jim Peterson and a delegation of private sector representatives, are seeking commercial deals that will help them pursue a $2 billion pipeline plan.

On Wednesday, Peterson said the trade relationship between Canada and China was "minuscule" compared with its potential.

"Canada is a world leader in natural resources management," said Peterson. "We look forward to the scientific and commercial advances that enhanced co-operation with China in that area will bring."

One of the 10 signed agreements included a sharing of knowledge on the two countries' natural resources industries -- as China eyes Canada's oil deposits and minerals to feed its booming economy.

Other deals included greater bilateral cooperation on nuclear energy efficiency and clean energy including renewable resources, according to a Canadian embassy spokesman.

Another agreement called for the establishment of a mechanism for policy dialogue and cooperation in the minerals and metals sectors.

Martin will also be pressing Beijing to open its mining sector -- a significant issue since China Minmetals Corp. entered talks to acquire Canada's Noranda Inc.

Minister of Natural Resources, John Efford, said:

"The signing of these agreements symbolizes the importance with which Canada views dialogue and co-operation with the People's Republic of China and, at the same time, reinforces and strengthens the links between our two countries."

With files from CTV's Joy Malbon and the Canadian Press