New York/CMEDIA: Canada’ Prime Minister Mark Carney reportedly sees many possibilities for Canada after he attended the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York this week, where the US Pres Donald Trump questioned the institution’s purpose.
“In every moment where there’s a crack, where there’s a rupture, there is possibility — and it’s our responsibility, it’s our opportunity as Canada in this moment to find it,” Carney has told the media Tuesday evening. “And after my visit to the United Nations General Assembly, I can assure Canadians that there is light, there are many possibilities.”
Earlier Tuesday at the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly, Carney listened to Trump’s roughly hour-long speech where he complained about the UN.
Trump at the meeting preached his “America First” policies that have abruptly caused havoc to geopolitics and sent shock waves to countries around the world.
“What is the purpose of the United Nations?” Trump asked as he criticized the institution for being full of “empty words.”
Trump added that the UN has tremendous potential, “but it’s not even coming close” to living up to it.
Not having a one-on-one meeting with the president, Carney attended Tuesday night a reception for world leaders hosted by the president.
In the UN General Assembly Carney met with CEOs and world leaders with an effort to diversify Canada’s trade and economic opportunities in the wake of Trump’s efforts to realign global trade through devastating duties.
Carney also met with leaders from Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.
During his bilateral meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Carney noted that since the two had spoken on the phone, “our two countries, our officials, have begun to engage much more regularly, much more constructively.”
“We have an opportunity in a world that is changing rapidly,” Carney told Li. “We have an opportunity to bring that partnership back and bring it to a new level, across a range of areas.”
Carney worked to restore diplomatic efforts that were strained when Canada hit China with targeted tariffs on key industries like steel and electric vehicles and in return was targeted with China’s duties, particularly on canola, which has hit Prairie province farmers.
Carney also plans to attend a UN summit focused on a sustainable, inclusive and resilient global economy, before his departure from New York and is also scheduled to meet with the prime minister of Jamaica.
