VACCINE SQUEEZE

Washington/Ottawa: In their first official meeting yesterday, United States President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stressed the countries’ deep ties and pledged to work together to counteract Chinese influence and address climate change.

‘‘The United States has no closer friend, no closer friend than Canada,” Biden told Trudeau via video link.

After talking for about two hours, the two leaders emerged and said they planned to work closely together to beat the Covid19 pandemic and combat climate change, with a goal of achieving netzero emissions by 2050.

Trudeau also thanked Biden for US support for the release of two Canadians held by China, Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, whom the leaders vowed to work together to get home. — Reuters