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HOUSTON, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stressed here late Thursday the importance of a stronger economy and environmental protection.
"We need to build stronger economies and build up opportunities for citizens while at the same time protecting the environment and thinking about the jobs of the next generation, for now as well," Trudeau said at the ongoing CERAWeek in the U.S. city, an annual international gathering of energy industry leaders, experts, government officials and policy makers.
"We're understanding we've got to get thoughtful and innovate in both our conventional energy sources and the next wave of renewable and solutions that we have," he said.
"Innovating - and pursuing renewables - isn't somehow in competition with more traditional resources," he added.
Meanwhile, Trudeau spoke highly of Canada's ties with the neighboring United States, saying "the ties between our two countries are economic - but also strategic."
He described the Canadian-U.S. economic relationship as the most successful one in the world, saying it supports millions of middle class jobs on both sides of the border.
The Canadian PM said that nothing is more essential to the U.S. economy than access to a secure, reliable source of energy, and Canada is that source.
Currently, Canada, provides more than 40 percent of America's imported crude. It buys more from the United States than any other country and is the number one customer of two thirds of U.S. states.
Last year alone, trade value between the state of Texas and Canada stood at 35.1 billion U.S. dollars.
The 36th annual energy IHS CERAWeek conference, organized by London-based consultancy IHS Markit, opened here on Monday under the theme "Pace of change: building a new energy future."
The five-day event has brought together at least 3,000 delegates, including energy ministers, from more than 60 countries to discuss the most pressing industry issues, state strategies and policies.
