The Canadian government is petitioning Beijing to add more offices where Chinese netizens can apply for Canadian visas to woo not only students and tourists but also highly-skilled workers.

Canada's Immigration Minister John McCallum visited Beijing on Sunday and met with senior Chinese officials at the Foreign Affairs and Public Security ministries. He sought approval to open at least five visa application centers in secondary Chinese cities including Chengdu, Jinan, Nanjing, Shenyang, and Wuhan.

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"Canada needs to take advantage of a great economic opportunity to capture this market and the opening of more visa application centers throughout China would facilitate travelers seeking to come to Canada," a government official who refused to be named, told CBC News on Wednesday.

The visa centers could be opened as early as next year. At the moment, Chinese citizens can apply for Canadian visas at five offices, including Hong Kong.

The request comes ahead of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's visit to China at the end of the month, before the G20 summit scheduled for early September in Hangzhou, Globe and Mail reported.

Trudeau has tasked Canada's International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland to widen Canada and China's economic relationship as it attempts to lure students to increase university enrolments in the country, employ foreign talent in high-tech jobs, and attract new cash investments.

"We want to facilitate the entry of people who can make some great contributions to Canada while they are here, and hopefully be able to retain them," the official said.

Currently, Chinese citizens are Canada's biggest group of temporary visitors, including about 120,000 students.

TagsCanada, china, Chinese Tourists, Canadian visa, visa, visa application centers