UPDATE 2-China blames Canada for difficulties in relationship, demands Huawei exec be freed

China's embassy in Canada said on Thursday that bilateral ties were suffering "gross difficulties," and demanded Ottawa free Huawei Technologies Co Ltd Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou.Relations have been icy since Meng was detained in Vancouver last December on a U.S. warrant.China has since charged two Canadians with spying and halted imports of canola seed and meat products from Canada.