Chilean President Gabriel Boric said at the start of his meeting in Ottawa with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday that the world needs countries like Canada and Chile while emphasizing the common ground between the two governments.

For his part, Trudeau said he was satisfied with the presence of Boric in the Canadian capital and his willingness to work with the new Chilean president on issues that affect the continent but also the rest of the world.

“It’s very exciting to see the emergence on the continent of a progressive voice with an exciting (government) agenda,” Trudeau told the media and Boric himself shortly before the start of the bilateral meeting.

The Canadian Prime Minister added that “strong progressive voices are extremely important” in discussions affecting global issues in the face of growing authoritarianism around the world.

In this sense, Boric showed his harmony with Trudeau and affirmed that “democracy is in danger in many parts of the world” and that it is important for him personally, but also for Chile. that “powerful young and progressive voices” have their presence on the international agenda.

“The world is changing even faster than we thought and the world needs countries like Canada and Chile,” Boric continued.

The two leaders highlighted the coincidence that exists in policies such as gender equality, inclusive economic growth, tackling the climate crisis, renewable energy development and relations with indigenous peoples.

Boric declared his satisfaction that his government is a feminist government and expressed his admiration for Canada’s multicultural approach and the bilingualism of the North American country, where English and French are the official languages.

“I wish that in Chile we could speak in our languages, especially the indigenous languages,” said the Chilean president.

Trudeau and Boric will host a press conference after their bilateral meeting where they plan to announce a gender equality deal.

Later, the two leaders will participate in a dialogue with Ottawa high school students along with the Canadian Minister of the Environment, Steven Guilbeault.