SHANGHAI - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday he had had difficult conversations with Chinese leaders on human rights, as his government announced the signing of 56 deals with China worth more than $1.2 billion.

Trudeau is seeking deeper ties with China but a trade dispute over canola, government divisions over China policy and the case of a detained citizen could limit his gains.

A day earlier, the family of Canadian citizen Kevin Garratt, indicted by China in January on charges of spying and stealing state secrets, expressed frustration by the lack of progress in securing his release.

Speaking to businesspeople in China's commercial capital of Shanghai following meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing, Trudeau said he told both men that acceptance of diverse perspectives would strengthen China.

"And I remind everyone that as a country that has seen the benefits first hand of free expression and good governance, Canada encourages China to do more to promote and protect human rights," he said.

"I know these are not easy conversations to have but they are necessary ones."

Speaking earlier to reporters, Canadian trade minister Chrystia Freeland said Canadians should be proud China was interested in their country but signaled Canada was in no rush to strike a free trade agreement.

"We can be a great partner for China but our government is taking our time. We believe a deep and effective economic relationship with China needs to be built consistently, thoughtfully, carefully," she said.

Sandra Pupatello, PwC Canada strategic advisor and former Ontario Minister of Economic Development and Trade, told BNN in an interview that Canada has an advantage in developing business and economic ties with China. 

“They [China] tend to like us right from the beginning. And then we have to work for them not to. Other countries don’t have that advantage with China, so we get an opportunity to snuggle up a little closer,” Pupatello said. 

“The idea of a trade mission often is that it pushes these deals to happen quicker and to happen, as opposed to maybe not so much, because the prime minister is coming.”  

Officials have said they need to take into account Canadians' hesitation about closer links with China.

A poll for the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada think-tank released on Monday showed that while 46 per cent of Canadians supported a free trade treaty with China, only 11 per cent backed investment by Chinese state-owned enterprises.

The deals signed on Thursday involve companies in sectors from seafood to clean technologies, Freeland added.

An eleventh-hour deal to delay new, stricter rules on canola imports was a meaningful and important step for Canada, she said.

China is Canada's top export market for the oilseed, and Ottawa has taken a strong line in talks on a new standard, which may raise costs for exporters.

Canada is committed to reaching a long-term and permanent canola deal with China at an early date, Freeland said.

"That's what we're working on right now and I'm confident we're going to get there."

With files from BNN