|
OTTAWA – President Barack Obama and
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today agreed the United States and
Canada will pursue economic recovery measures and efforts to
strengthen the international financial system to counter the
global economic recession.
"I value our strategic partnership with Canada and look forward
to working closely with the Prime Minister to address the global
economic recession and create jobs, to protect our environment
through promoting clean energy technologies, and achieve our
shared goals in responding to international security
challenges." said the President.
"The President and I agree that both our countries must take
immediate action to restore economic growth by lowering taxes,
ensuring access to credit and unleashing spending that
stimulates economic growth. We also agreed to strengthen our
cooperation in the areas of environmental protection and global
security," said the Prime Minister.
RESTORING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND CREATING JOBS
The President and the Prime Minister
discussed their respective economic recovery plans and their
focus on saving and creating jobs. In addition, the President
and the Prime Minister discussed common challenges they face,
including restructuring of the North American auto sector.
They also discussed working together to develop effective global
responses to the economic crisis, through the G-8 and G-20
processes. The United States and Canada will actively work
together to ensure that the G-20 Summit in April contributes to
restoring confidence in financial markets.
Finally, they instructed senior officials to meet at an early
date to develop strategies to enhance our collective security in
North America, including reviewing the management of the
Canada-U.S. border.
TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY SECURITY
Noting the long and productive history
of bilateral co-operation on continental environmental
protection and energy trade and technology, the President and
the Prime Minister agreed that environmental protection and the
development of clean energy are inextricably linked and
announced plans to work together to build a new energy economy
as a key element of broader economic recovery and reinvestment
efforts.
The Leaders discussed practical ways the United States and
Canada could encourage the development of clean energy
technologies to reduce greenhouse gases and combat climate
change. The Leaders established a senior-level U.S.-Canada
Clean Energy Dialogue that will cooperate on several critical
energy science and technology issues, including:
- Expand clean energy research and development
- Develop and deploy clean energy technology
- Build a more efficient electricity grid based on clean
and renewable generation
United States and Canadian officials
will meet in the coming weeks to launch the Clean Energy
Dialogue.
RESPONDING TO INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CHALLENGES
The President and the Prime Minister
agreed on the importance of Canada and the United States
cooperating closely on a number of key international priorities
for both countries, with a particular focus on Afghanistan,
which is a top priority for both countries and which will be a
major subject of attention at the upcoming NATO Summit. The
Leaders also agreed to work together closely in the Americas,
including promoting effective discussion and meaningful results
at the Summit of the Americas in April.
Our Foreign Ministers will meet in Washington next week, and
Ministers of Defence the following week, to pursue a
strengthened dialogue on these and other key international
challenges.
|
