BEIJING, Jan 15 (Reuters): China praised on Thursday a visit to Beijing this week by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, calling it "pivotal" in work to recalibrate ties following months of intense re-engagement.

The remarks by China's top diplomat Wang Yi were made in a meeting with Canadian counterpart Anita Anand, who is part of Carney's delegation on the first visit by a Canadian prime minister since 2017.

"This marks the Canadian prime minister's first visit to China in eight years, representing a pivotal and landmark moment for our bilateral relations," Wang said.

China is willing to deepen cooperation with Canada while eliminating "interference", Wang added, but stopped short of specifying the source of the interference.

In turn, Anand praised the behind-the-scenes work in organising Carney's approaching meetings with China's leaders to "ensure those meetings are a success", the Canadian prime minister's office said in a statement.

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