Biden, on his meeting with Trudeau: "Canada can always count on the support of the United States"

Joe Biden, president of the United States, and Justin Trudeau, Canadian prime minister, clink a glass of water, this Friday.MANDEL NGAN (AFP)

Joe Biden concluded his first official visit as president of the United States to Canada this Friday afternoon.

The president stayed just over 27 hours in Ottawa, where he held meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, members of the Government and parliamentarians.

Biden noted that the United States and Canada "are two peoples that share the same heart."

In addition to the signing of an immigration agreement and a plan for technological trade, the North American neighbors showed parallel global visions, mainly with regard to the war in Ukraine and the threats of climate change.

The last US president to have paid an official visit to Canada was Barack Obama, in June 2016. Joe Biden traveled to the neighboring country with his wife, Jill Biden.

The couple landed this Thursday afternoon - around 6 local time - at Ottawa's McDonald-Cartier International Airport, where they were received by a delegation led by Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada.

Subsequently, the couple participated in a private meeting with Prime Minister Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau.

This Friday, the US president and the Canadian prime minister held a meeting, in addition to working meetings with their respective teams.

Both governments closed an agreement to return immigrants who cross the border through irregular points.

In return, Canada will take in an additional 15,000 migrants annually on humanitarian grounds.

Ottawa and Washington also announced an agreement to launch a cross-border corridor for the manufacture of semiconductors.

They also expressed their concern for Haiti, a country greatly affected by gangs.

Canada reported an additional aid package of more than US$72 million for Haitian police forces.

Speaking to Canadian lawmakers, Trudeau said the United States and Canada are closely linked "in seeking common solutions to major challenges."

For her part, Biden said in a speech before legislators that "Canada can always count on the support of the United States."

Both Trudeau and Biden stressed in their speeches support for Ukraine, criticism of Moscow, responsibilities to NATO members and the modernization of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD for its acronym in English).

They also expressed their commitment to the fight against climate change and economic development with an environmental perspective.

In a joint statement, the two leaders said that China represents "a serious long-term challenge to the world order."

The US leaders' speech in Parliament was attended by Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, the two Canadians who were detained in China in retaliation for the December 2018 arrest of Meng Wanzhou, Huawei vice president, in Vancouver.

Following a dinner given in her honor, Joe and Jill Biden boarded Air Force One for the weekend in Wilmington, Delaware.

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