OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that he will meet with Mexican President Felipe Calderón and American President Barack Obama at the upcoming North American Leaders' Summit in Guadalajara, Mexico, on August 9 and 10, 2009. The Prime Minister will be joined at the summit by Minister of Public Safety Peter Van Loan and Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas) Peter Kent.

“As continental partners and close friends, it is more important than ever that Canada, the United States and Mexico work together in response to the challenges posed by the global recession,” said the Prime Minister. “I look forward to meeting with President Calderón and President Obama and discussing how our countries can continue our effective collaboration to address the serious economic, security, health and environmental issues that are faced by Canadians, Mexicans and Americans alike.”

The leaders will focus on four themes: promoting economic recovery and North American competitiveness; cooperating on clean energy and climate change; addressing public safety issues including security and the H1N1 influenza outbreak; and regional and global issues.

The Prime Minister also announced that he will visit Panama on August 11, 2009, to meet with newly elected President Ricardo Martinelli and discuss how Canada and Panama can continue to work together to foster democracy, open markets and prosperity in the hemisphere.

PMO Press Office

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