Visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang signed three trade agreements on Monday as Ottawa tries to diversify commercial ties amid tough NAFTA negotiations with Washington.

At a ceremony in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, the two leaders signed an action plan on energy cooperation as well as two memoranda of understanding on food products and a "Canada learning initiative." 

The details of the agreements are unclear.

The two sides also agreed that Canadian beef and pork will have greater access to the Chinese market and will continue to work on new standards for Canadian exports of canola to China.

"Canada is and always has been a trading nation, but the landscape of trade is shifting and we need to adjust," Trudeau told reporters after the signing ceremony.