Justin Trudeau turns to Weibo and WeChat to reach Chinese audience

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is well-known for his use of social media in Canada, but what will he do in China, where social media services areheavily monitored and censored?

Senior Canadian government officials say Trudeau plans to use hisWeibo and WeChat accounts on this visit, both of which he has hadsince last year's federal election campaign.

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Weibo is like a hybrid of Twitter and Facebookand is one of the most popular sites in China.It was launched in 2009and by last yearit reportedly had222 million subscribers and about 100 million daily users.

WeChat is similar to Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp, in which users share text messages, "stickers," pictures and videos.

And Trudeau has a few things on the itinerary of his China trip that will likely merit some sharing.

He will visit the Great Wall of China while in Beijing andmeet young people at an event in Shanghai.The prime minister will also join former NBA player Yao Ming when he visits a private high school in that city.

Reaching out to the Chinese

David Mulroney,Canada's former ambassador to China and current president of University of St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto, saidusing social media is a smart idea.

"There are some limitations, but social media provides an access to the Chinese people that was never on offer before," he said.

"Does it give us 100 per cent access? No. But it certainly is a really welcome alternative to the Chinese state media," the former ambassador added.

Mulroney points out Trudeau already has an international profile that will make Chinese peoplewant to learn more about him.

"They will be interested in someone whose father helped to establish a relationship. They will be interested in someone who's young, who's got a family, who's different, who's obviously interested in China," Mulroney said."There's a powerful message there, and I think it would be really wise for us to make the most of it."

Mulroney also saidTrudeau's trip comes at a time when Chinese people are showing a growinginterest in Canada.

"Increasingly, Chinese people, who are newly prosperous, they're footloose," he said. "They're travelling the world. They're sending their kids overseas for education. They're buying property internationally.

"And increasingly, Canada is on their agenda."

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