U.S. President George W. Bush delivers a speech at a joint press conference after he talked with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Washington on July 6.(Xinhua Photo)

U.S. President George W. Bush and visiting Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper walk to the location of a joint press conference in Washington on July 6.(Xinhua Photo)

    WASHINGTON, July 6 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush, at a joint press conference with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Thursday, thanked Canada for its help in Afghanistan and the war on terror.

    "I thank the prime minister and the Canadian people for their involvement in Afghanistan," Bush said.

    "And I do want to thank the families of those soldiers who are in Afghanistan ... The soldiers are doing fantastic work," Bush said.

    For his part, Harper hailed the close relations between Canada and the United States.

    "The U.S. and Canada have very close relations. We have talked about several international and bilateral issues. We share values and goals that are common, and we have greatest trade relationship in the history of the world," he said.

    Harper, who was elected in January, arrived in Washington on Wednesday for his first official visit to the United States.

    The Canadian government has decided to beef up and extend its mission of Canadian troops in Afghanistan to 2009. Enditem