Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said China has been very helpful in dealing with the global financial crisis and the Chinese undertook pretty strong stimulus programs of their own during this recession.

Harper made these remarks during an interview with Bloomberg TV on Monday, just a few days before he will host two summits with world leaders G8 summit in the cottage resort town of Huntsville, Muskoka, and a G20 summit in Toronto, where leaders will tackle the major challenges to the global economic recovery.

"The Chinese have been very helpful in this crisis," Harper said.

"The Chinese undertook pretty strong stimulus programs of their own during the crisis, that were probably not necessary if you look at the dictates of China's own national economic circumstances."

Harper also appreciated China's contribution to the global recovery.

This is another sign that China is increasingly not just taking global leadership and taking a bigger role in the world, but China is increasingly assuming a broader view of its own interests in the world, "which is something we want to encourage," he said.