I'm John Batchett. I welcome my colleague Conrad Black. He writes for the National Post. His column is a distinguished biographer.

And I call upon him to help me interpret the intentions of the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, and his mission to China. And he goes on to Davos.

This is a central banker, a man accustomed to dealing with the leadership of nations from the point of view of fiscal authority.

A quote from Mr. Carney after meeting with the top legislature in China.

He also shook hands with Xi Jinping and met with Li Chang, the money man in the Chinese leadership.

Mr. Carney said, we're heartened by the leadership of President Xi Jinping and the speed with which our relationship has progressed.

Furthermore, according to the reporting, Mr. Carney told Premier Lee Chang that both countries

have been working in recent months, quote, to address some specific issues that have built

up over time and, quote, to put in place the foundations for a new strategic partnership

between Canada and China. The progress, Mr. Carney says, will help between Canada and China.

The progress, Mr. Carney says, will help set Canada and China up for, quote,

the new world order.

Conrad, how do you hear this?

Mr. Carney is working very hard.

Where is he going with this, and what is the expectation in Canada?

Good evening to you.

Good evening to you, John. Look, I think there's now a fair bit of impatience.

Carney's been the prime minister for nine months. Now, admittedly, part of that was, well, a little

bit of that was in election campaigns, but he's been pretty much clear and free to do what he wants for almost nine months.

And we haven't reduced tariffs against Canada anywhere in any single country, not one.

And we have no new trade agreements with anybody.

And he ran, as you recall, and we discussed it on your program, masquerading

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