It is a glimmer of hope for the family of Amanda Zhao, the Chinese exchange student who was murdered in Burnaby, B.C. six years ago.
Canadian RCMP homicide investigators have confirmed they will travel to China later this month to brief officials in that country on the evidence against a Chinese man wanted for the second degree murder of the 20-year-old, according to a Globe and Mail report.
Zhao's parents have been in B.C. since Monday trying to gather answers about the slow progress of the investigation into the 2002 murder of their daughter.
Zhao's boyfriend, Ang Li, has been charged with the crime but fled to China before he could be arrested -- and hasn't been returned because of jurisdictional disputes.
He is currently living in a Chinese military compound with his father.
Mounties say they are ready to share their evidence against Li in hopes he is tried in China -- and Zhao's parents meet with Foreign Affairs Minister David Emerson Friday in an effort to make further progress.
About 35 people attended a tearful memorial service for Zhao Thursday morning at Vancouver's Chinese Cultural Centre.
Amanda's cousin, Li Jun Jun, criticized the Canadian government and the justice system for making no headway in the case.
"The family feels they have not received the answers they are seeking, which is seeking justice for their daughter," said B.C. NDP MLA Jenny Kwan.
Speaking through a translator at a press conference Tuesday, parents Zisheng Zhao and Baoying Yao said they want Canadian politicians to co-operate with Chinese officials and bring Li back to Canada to face trial.
"The Chinese government is now dealing with (the) case because they don't have any evidence the Canadian government hasn't done anything for us either," Zhao said.
Hikers found Zhao's body 11 days after she disappeared, stuffed in a bag in a wooded area near Mission, about 80 kilometres east of Vancouver.
