Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon held a teleconference with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday, discussing key issues of mutual interest, particularly the coordination of the two countries’ responses to the disaster in Haiti.

Cannon said in a statement that the conversation was important, given the critical need to coordinate the two countries’ efforts to ensure that the people of Haiti receive aid in a timely and efficient manner.

"Canada is making all efforts to get aid and assistance to the Haitian people during their time of need, and to support Canadians affected by this disaster, " said Cannon.

In addition to Haiti, the two ministers also discussed many issues, including the need for continued Canada-US collaboration in Afghanistan's Kandahar province, priorities for the Group of Eight foreign ministers' meeting in Gatineau, Quebec in March, and arctic cooperation.

Cannon held the teleconference with Clinton due to the cancellation of his scheduled visit to Washington.

(Xinhua News Agency January 23, 2010)