US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to Canadian PM in her first official foreign call

The newly instated US Vice President Kamala Harris, who is the first woman to hold that position in the history of the United States, had a conversation with the Prime Minister of Canada on Monday in her first call to a foreign leader after taking office on January 20. 

The two leaders spoke about the substantial importance and interdependence of both countries as a significant strategic ally and economic partner. 

A White House official said, while reading out the call, “The Vice President underscored Canada’s deep importance to the United States as an economic and strategic partner, and she expressed the United States’ desire to work closely with Canada on a wide range of issues, including combating the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing climate change and expanding our economic partnership in ways that advance the recovery and create jobs in both countries.”

Also Read: Justin Trudeau, Joe Biden to meet next month: Canada

According to the read-out, Trudeau and Harris also talked about the two Canadians who were unlawfully detained by China while the US Vice President expressed solidarity with Canada. 

During the call, the US Vice President and the Canadian prime minister agreed to remain in close touch and support all efforts to expand bilateral cooperation.

The two leaders also vowed to expand bilateral cooperation between the two countries while being in close touch. 

A few days into his term, US President Joe Biden also made his first official call from his office to the Canadian PM in regards to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement to talk about the economic bloc’s further steps to smoothen over any strains that remain on their economies due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Also Read: Canadian PM Justin Trudeau announces mandatory hotel quarantine for travellers

Trudeau stated that the new US administration represents an opportunity to turn the page on a challenging relationship with the US under Trump, who once labelled Trudeau as “dishonest” and “meek.”

“We are truly beginning a new era of friendship. We have so much alignment, not just me and President Biden, but Canadians and President Biden,” Trudeau commented, citing as examples combating climate change and the spread of COVID-19 illnesses.

Biden and Trudeau are also scheduled to meet this month “to advance the important work of renewing the deep and enduring friendship between Canada and the United States.”