Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland is calling the detainment of two Canadians in China 鈥渧ery concerning.鈥�

Canadian government officials were granted access to one of two Canadians being detained in China on Friday. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told The Canadian Press he expects diplomats will meet with the second detainee 鈥渟hortly.鈥� 

Michael Kovrig, a former diplomat in China, and Michael Spavor, an entrepreneur who lived near the North Korean border, were taken into custody Monday on suspicion of "engaging in activities that endanger the national security" of China.

Some saw the move as retaliation for the arrest of Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of telecommunications giant Huawei, in Vancouver on Dec. 1. China has denied the claim.

On Friday, Canada鈥檚 ambassador to China John McCallum was granted a meeting with Kovrig in Beijing.

Freeland and Minister of Defence Harjit Sajjan met with their counterparts in Washington, D.C., on Friday.

鈥淲e discussed China and the case of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou, building on a conversation that secretary Mike Pompeo and I began soon after her arrest,鈥� Freeland said during a news conference.

鈥淲e all agree that the most important thing we can do is to uphold the rule of law, ensure that Ms. Meng鈥檚 right to due process is respected and that the current judicial process in Canada remains apolitical.

鈥淲e also discussed consular issues which are very concerning for Canada, the detention of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.鈥�

The detention of Meng was not a political decision on Canada鈥檚 part, Freeland told reporters.

The U.S. wants Meng extradited to face fraud charges. A Canadian judge released Meng on a $10-million bail Tuesday which included conditions she wear an electronic tracker and is monitored by two surveillance staff.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo went further in his criticism of China.

鈥淭he unlawful detention of two Canadians is unacceptable, they ought to be returned,鈥� he said.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to get every citizen unlawfully detained all around the world returned to the country to which they have the right to go back to,鈥� Pompeo added.

Freeland confirmed that she has spoken to the Chinese ambassador to Canada and other Chinese authorities.

She said China has not drawn a connection between the arrest of Meng and the detention of the two Canadians.

鈥淔rom Canada鈥檚 perspective these kinds of issue ought never to be confused,鈥� Freeland said.

鈥淚n the detention of Ms. Meng Canada was acting scrupulously in line with our treaty commitments and the rule of law.鈥�

The next step is for a Canadian court to rule on whether the extradition is warranted, Freeland added.

鈥淚n the cases of Mr. Kovrig and Mr. Spavor our immediate concern has been to get consular access to them and to understand what the charges are being put on them by the Chinese authorities,鈥� Freeland said.

鈥淲e鈥檙e advocating for them very aggressively. I鈥檝e spoken to family members of both men. This is a huge priority for our government.鈥�

Global Affairs Canada said the primary purposes of a consular visit include assessing the well-being of a Canadian citizen, clarifying the nature of the detention, providing legal guidance and a communication link between the Canadian and their loved ones.

鈥淐anadian consular officials continue to provide consular services to [Kovrig] and his family and will continue to seek further access to Mr. Kovrig,鈥� a Global Affairs statement said.

Due to the provisions of the Privacy Act no further information can be disclosed, Global Affairs Canada said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism Melanie Joly postponed a planned trip to China to attend a tourism event at the last minute.

Jeremy Ghio, a spokesperson for Joly鈥檚 office, told CTV News that the delay to her trip was 鈥渕utually agreed.鈥�

鈥淐anada and China mutually agreed to postpone the Canada-China Year of Tourism closing ceremony and Minister Joly鈥檚 planned travel to China,鈥� he said.

鈥淏oth governments agreed this would allow us to better achieve our shared objectives.鈥�

鈥淐anada and China mutually agreed to postpone the Canada-China Year of Tourism closing ceremony and Minister Joly鈥檚 planned travel to China,鈥� he said.

鈥淏oth governments agreed this would allow us to better achieve our shared objectives.鈥�