Vancouver on frontier of green economy: Canadian PM

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said here on Thursday that Vancouver, an important economic gateway to Asia, represents the frontier of the country's green economy.

After paying a visit to Vancouver City Hall for a meeting with Vancouver Mayor Gregor Roberston, the Canadian leader told a press conference that they have a broad range of solutions that "Vancouver is putting forward on top of the natural and carefully-built connections with the Pacific Rim, which will be an important source for jobs and growth in the coming years in our economy."

Trudeau is quite familiar with Vancouver as he used to spend several years living and teaching in the western coastal city.

He said his current trip was part of a nationwide tour to meet with officials in big cities in his early tenure.

"There are many initiatives that citizens need across the country, and inherent in that need is the need to have levels of government that work together in partnership, collaboration, respect and dialogue," he said.

Meanwhile, Roberston said on the same occasion that the prime minister' s visit marked a change in tone between the city and Ottawa.

"The prime minister and I just had a very productive meeting. It's so refreshing to have a partner in Ottawa that treats cities with respect and recognizes that we are so vital to the country's success," the Vancouver mayor said.

Both said the city and the federal governments need to work closer on important issues such as housing, transportation investment and climate change. Endi