Newsom discusses relationships and climate during APEC CEO summit, meets Canadian Prime Minister - KCRA Sacramento

Newsom discusses relationships and climate during APEC CEO Summit

Newsom discusses relationships and climate during APEC CEO summit, meets Canadian Prime Minister

Gov. Gavin Newsom was the first government leader to welcome Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to San Francisco on Wednesday.

The two leaders met for a meeting to discuss a variety of issues.

"There's so much to talk about on climate, on the economy on trade, on helping our citizens with affordability, so many things on which we’re aligned," Trudeau told Newsom when they first sat down.

Trudeau and Newsom also followed up on a climate-related agreement they signed together last year, which lays out California and Canada's commitment to cut pollution, plastic waste and carbon emissions.

“We’re working on an electric vehicle corridor from California, Oregon, Washington and into Quebec, that’s come from that memorandum of cooperation," Newsom said, "It may be one of the first of its type anywhere and so that’s one of the prude points of how successful this relationship has been over the years.”

That partnership, one of several Newsom’s administration has said is key in broader efforts to protect the planet.

Trudeau and Newsom met blocks away from the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation's CEO Summit. Demonstrators in the surrounding area have been divided on United States leaders engaging with China.

Prior to his meeting with Trudeau, Newsom participated in a fireside chat at the summit, which focused on how government and business leaders can work together to use technology to confront climate change and promote sustainability.

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The governor reiterated the importance of maintaining relationships, especially the one the United States has with China.

"The planet is a beneficiary, the economies are a beneficiary," Newsom told the group gathered for the discussion. "That’s why i’m here at APEC. Open hand, not a closed fist. Divorce is not an option. We have to live together and advance together across our differences, we’ll manage our strategic competition, but at the end of the day we all share the same short moment in life, and climate is the ultimate equalizer."

Newsom is expected to continue meeting with leaders from along the Pacific rim throughout the week.