U.S. President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Thursday an initiative to increase bilateral cooperation on environmental protection and energy security. The pair announced the planned dialogue after meeting for discussions on what was Obama's first trip abroad as U.S. president. Both men praised their discussions and Harper said he had high hopes for the future of bilateral relations. Obama's “election to the presidency launches a new chapter in the rich history of U.S.-Canada relations, it is a relationship between allies, partners and the closest of friends,” Harper said.
