OTTAWA, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Li Changchun, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), met with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper here Thursday to discuss China-Canada bilateral exchanges and cooperation.

"China would like to work with Canada to improve exchanges and cooperation in various areas," said Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee's Political Bureau, who is on a four-day visit to Canada.

He outlined four areas where the two countries should strengthen their relations.

First of all, China and Canada should continue to enhance political mutual trust, maintain regular contacts between their leaders, and expand exchanges and dialogue between their political parties and governments.

Second, the two countries should deepen economic and trade cooperation and try to realize the goal of doubling bilateral trade before 2015.

Third, the two countries should continue to strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, cooperate more in the fields of culture, education and media, and as soon as possible reach the target of having 100,000 exchange students in the two countries within five years.

Fourth, China and Canada should strengthen cooperation on international affairs, facilitate coordination in multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, and work together to help maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and the whole world.

Harper, who visited China in February this year, said that Canada-China relations have become one of the world's most important, and that there is huge potential for bilateral cooperation between the two countries in various fields.

Canada values China's status and influence in the world and is willing to further expand cooperation with China in such fields as energy, natural resources, culture and education, Harper said.

Harper also said that the two countries should strengthen coordination in multilateral mechanisms, such as the Group of 20 (G20), and work together to push forward the strategic partnership between the two countries.