US, Canada leaders speak ahead of climate summit

WASHINGTON

US President Joe Biden and Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discussed a range of issues on Wednesday ahead of a Washington-led global climate summit.

The White House said in a statement that the two leaders spoke about preparations for the two-day Leaders Summit on Climate scheduled for Thursday and Friday, the coronavirus pandemic and the plight of two Canadians who are detained in China.

"The President applauded Canada's vital contributions to addressing climate change and both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to demonstrate global leadership on the climate crisis through the U.S.-Canada High-Level Dialogue on Climate Ambition launched on February 23," said the statement.

Biden and Trudeau agreed to continue efforts to control the pandemic, collaborate on public health responses and global health security.

"The President also condemned the arbitrary detention of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor and reiterated the commitment of the United States to stand strong with Canada to secure their release," said the statement.

Biden invited 40 world leaders to the summit “to galvanize efforts by the major economies to tackle the climate crisis.”

The virtual summit follows Washington’s return to the 2016 Paris Agreement after former President Donald Trump pulled out of the accord last year.