BIDEN, TRUDEAU IN VIRTUAL MEET

U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday stuck to a virtual format for talks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in what the White House called his "first bilateral meeting" since taking office last month, according to Kyodo News.

Biden has not met foreign leaders in person in Washington or visited other countries since taking office on Jan. 20 as he prioritizes efforts to contain the novel coronavirus.

In remarks streamed live through the White House website, the two leaders affirmed their cooperation in tackling the pandemic and climate change issues as well as their shared defense commitment as allies under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Biden said after the meeting the two countries have agreed to launch a high-level climate ministerial meeting to align their efforts toward the goal of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050.

He also said the meeting was an opportunity to seek to reinforce their bilateral ties to address issues of "concern," including coordinating their approaches to "better compete with China."

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