"He has set a higher bar for the U.S.-Canada partnership than perhaps any president before," the magazine wrote. "But with the goodwill generated from his first charm offensive, his chances of success look pretty good."

During the seven-hour working visit to Canada, Barack Obama and Stephen Harper outlined three 
main priorities of the bilateral relationship — working together to restore economic growth, a new initiative on environmental protection and a commitment to stabilize Afghanistan. 

The two leaders agreed the United States and Canada will pursue economic recovery measures and efforts to strengthen the international financial system to counter the global economic recession.     

“I value our strategic partnership with Canada and look forward to working closely with the Prime Minister to address the global economic recession and create jobs, to protect our environment through promoting clean energy technologies, and achieve our shared goals in responding to international security challenges.” said the President.    

“The President and I agree that both our countries must take immediate action to restore economic growth by lowering taxes, ensuring access to credit and unleashing spending that stimulates economic growth.  We also agreed to strengthen our cooperation in the areas of environmental protection and global security,” said the Prime Minister. 

RESTORING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND CREATING JOBS

The President and the Prime Minister discussed their respective economic recovery plans and their focus on saving and creating jobs. In addition, the President and the Prime Minister discussed common challenges they face, including restructuring of the North American auto sector.

They also discussed working together to develop effective global responses to the economic crisis, through the G-8 and G-20 processes. The United States and Canada  will actively work together to ensure that the G-20 Summit in April contributes to restoring confidence in financial markets. 

RESPONDING TO INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CHALLENGES

The President and the Prime Minister agreed on the importance of Canada and the United States cooperating closely on a number of key international priorities for both countries, with a particular focus on Afghanistan, which is a top priority for both countries and which will be a major subject of attention at the upcoming NATO Summit. 

With Afghanistan becoming a focal point of Obama's foreign policy, there have been questions as to whether the U.S. will ask Canada for a longer combat commitment past the 2011 deadline.

"I certainly did not press the prime minister on any additional commitment beyond the ones already made. All I did was to compliment Canada on not only the troops that are there … but also the fact that Canada's largest foreign aid recipient is Afghanistan," Obama said.

"We just want to say thank you."

Obama said the two leaders also discussed the issue of border security and how both governments could use some stimulus and infrastructure spending to potentially ease the bottlenecks at the border. 

Harper said that he wanted to make it clear to the U.S. that since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Canada has made significant investments in security along the border and that Ottawa takes security concerns as seriously "as our American friends."

"Obviously we've been concerned with the thickening of the border. The key is to look at how we can deal with security in a way that doesn't inhibit commerce," Harper said.

"Now, we've got very real security concerns, as does Canada, but I think that it is possible for us to balance our security concerns with an open border that continues to encourage this extraordinary trade relationship in which we have $1.5 billion worth of trade going back and forth every single day," Obama said.

The Leaders also agreed to work together closely in the Americas, including promoting effective discussion and meaningful results at the Summit of the Americas in April.

The Leaders directed the Foreign Ministers and the Defence Ministers of both countries to meet and pursue a strengthened dialogue on these and other key international challenges.