The leaders of Canada, the US and Mexico arrived on Monday in
Montebello, Canada, to begin a two-day summit to boost trilateral
trade and security cooperation.
US President George W.
Bush (R) talks with Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper before
the start of a bilateral meeting in Montebello, Quebec on August
20, 2007.
The summit is the third of its kind under the framework of the
so-called Security and Prosperity Partnership (SSP), which was
launched at the first "Three Amigos" summit in Waco, Texas, in
March 2005.
Apart from the traditional topics of trade and security, the
leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, US
President George W. Bush and Mexican President Felipe Calderon,
will also review the current turmoil in the financial markets
triggered by a subprime loan meltdown, organizers said.
"This meeting is a reaffirmation of the commitment that all
three of these countries have to create a secure and prosperous
continent," agencies reports quoted White House spokesman Gordon
Johndroe as saying.
"I don't expect any major announcements to come from the
meeting," Johndroe said. "I think it's a continuance of discussions
that we have regularly with our two closest neighbors."
US President George W.
Bush (R) shakes hands with Mexico's President Felipe Calderon after
arriving at the Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello in Canada, during
the two-day North American Leaders' Summit with Canada and Mexico,
August 20, 2007.
The summit, held at a cabin resort in Montebello, about 80
kilometers northeast of Ottawa, has been dogged by protesters who
are concerned with the lack of transparency in the summit and its
outcome.
To prevent the protesters from derailing the summit, organizers
have erected a fence three meters high and running 2.5 kilometers
around the venue of the gathering.
(Xinhua News Agency August 21, 2007)
