 Prime Minister Ruta and I have worked together many times since the beginning of my mandate, cooperating on issues of shared interests like trade, economic growth, climate change, and peace and security around the world. We share not only a set of common goals, but a deep commitment to the values we hold dear. Values like democracy, human rights, and equality. Values upon which our relationship was built and will continue to grow on in the years ahead, I'm sure. Today's meeting was a chance for us to discuss the future of a closer partnership between our two countries. We made good progress on trade, climate change, and peace and security. We first discussed trade and economy. A little over a year ago, we celebrated the conclusion of the Global Economic and Commercial Agreement with the European Union. A progressive, modern and ambitious agreement, the SCG takes advantage of the families of the middle class, the companies and the workers on both sides of the Atlantic. By reducing trade obstacles, the agreement encourages, in particular, the creation of good jobs here in Canada and in Europe. It also allows small and medium-sized companies to pursue new markets and join hundreds of millions of new clients. The SCG is also the image of our values and the height of our ambitions. It preserves the right of the State to regulate in the public interest, to put into action policies to support our cultural industries, as well as to protect the norms of work and to encourage a greater cooperation on the environment and climate change. And less than a year after its entry into power, the SCG has already produced very promising results. In the first year of CETA's provisional application, Canada's exports to the Netherlands have increased by 33 percent, while Dutch imports have increased by 24 percent. These increases are amongst the highest in the EU, and they are a tremendously positive sign of the direction that our partnership will take under the agreement. More trade means more opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs, more customers for companies, growth for the middle class, and more jobs for people in Canada and in the Netherlands. As part of this meeting, the Prime Minister and I also talked about the growing threat of climate change, which we know is the greatest challenge of our time. Almost three years ago, Canada, the Netherlands, and the rest of the world signed on to an ambitious plan to lower emissions and put a halt to a warming climate. We stand firm in our commitment to meet our targets and fully implement the Paris Agreement. In fact, earlier this week, Canada took another step in the right direction when we put a price on pollution. In every province and territory in this country, it will no longer be free to pollute. And as a result of this plan, every family will be better off. Make no mistake. Climate change is a problem we can and will solve. The scientific and economic arguments are clear. Solutions do exist, and Canadians can count on their government to not only take action, but to lead at home and abroad. At the G7 summit, Canada and its partners concluded the Oceans Plastics Charter. This was an important step towards achieving a life-cycle economy in which all plastics would be recycled and repurposed. This was terrific news not only for the environment, but for businesses who stand to benefit from reducing the costs associated with plastic use. On that note, I am very much looking forward to working closely with Prime Minister Rutte to reduce plastic pollution and keep our oceans clean and healthy for generations to come. In addition to trade and climate change, this meeting was also a chance to discuss matters of regional and defence security issues. Canada serves alongside the Netherlands in the NATO-led training mission in Iraq and in the Baltics. I reiterated to mark Canada's unwavering commitment to NATO's mission and to our allies. As I mentioned earlier, the Netherlands and Canada are united by the values we share, the same values we are proud to be defending around the world. Countries like ours must stand up for democracy, human rights and the rule of law at a time when these institutions are facing growing uncertainty. That is why we are committed not only to defence efforts, but to keep peacekeeping missions, notably in Mali. We will continue to work together to build a more peaceful and prosperous world, a world where the rights and liberties of every citizen are upheld and protected. Finally, we have discussed the links that our citizens are making. As the Prime Minister evaluated during his public allocation this morning, the Netherlands and Canadians share not only one story, but also common ambitions. I think, for example, that our commitment to build a greener world, more innovative and a more equal working market, notably for women and ethnic and cultural minorities. Our cooperation on the international scene, just like the many students who choose to pursue their studies in a country like ours, shows many links that unite us. That is what makes the Netherlands not only a strong partner for Canada, but a close friend. A friendship that has been forged, especially during the Second World War. It is here in Ottawa that the Dutch royal family has been refugees during the occupation. In 1945, Canadian troops liberated the Netherlands at the end of the war. As a sign of recognition, the Dutch people sent tens of thousands of tulips to Ottawa, marking the beginning of a great tradition. The tulips that burn the streets of the capital every year in May remind us of the friendship we celebrate today and that we are seeking to multiply during the next few years. The friendship that defines our two countries and our people is truly exceptional. I have no doubt that we will find new ways to build on a strong and unique relationship that unites us and grows even closer in the years to come. Once again, I want to thank Prime Minister Goethe, I want to thank Mark for his visit. I look forward to continuing the work we did here in Ottawa, as we will, on international stage and in many bilateral meetings. Thank you, Mark. Turning it over to you now. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Well, first of all, I would like to thank Prime Minister Trudeau, Justin, and the Canadian Parliament for the warm welcome I received today. On the disturbing news about explosive devices in the United States, I completely agree with the statement the Canadian Prime Minister just made. In my meeting with the Prime Minister, and also in my speech to Parliament, I stressed that Canada is a natural partner for the Netherlands. You're like-minded countries that always see eye-to-eye. We have a special history and we share a bright future. The Netherlands will forever be grateful to Canada for the courageous sacrifices made by the Canadians during our liberation. And we remain close partners and key allies on the world stage in areas ranging from peace and security to free trade and climate change. For example, the Ocean Plastic Charter. I'm happy to announce that the Netherlands endorses the Charter and the goals for a resource-efficient lifecycle management of plastics. This is in line with our ambitions to transition to a 100 percent circular economy in the Netherlands. We work closely with NATO and UN, a Mali, Afghanistan, and the Anti-ISIS Coalition. To mention just a few examples, we are both working hard to combat climate change and promote climate adaptation. And we are both firm supporters of a rules-based international order. We believe that by working together in multilateral fora, we can have a more productive dialogue on international institutions and the necessary possible reforms. Canada and the Netherlands have an intensive commercial relationship. The Netherlands is the second-biggest investor in Canada. In the last 10 years, trade flows from Netherlands to Canada have tripled. And conversely, the Netherlands is an appealing destination for Canadian companies, things in part to our outstanding infrastructure. CETA provides many opportunities for future growth, since its professional entry into force. Dutch exports to Canada have grown, and also the exports from Canada to the Netherlands have grown. I believe we can expect more positive effects as ratification moves ahead, and businesses become more familiar with the benefits. We are both working together to make this happen. In fact, this is the theme of part of my afternoon program. The Netherlands is very glad to have a partner like Canada in the international arena. In a rapidly changing world, a relationship like ours is more and more valuable. We will continue seeking each other out, to bolster our partnership, and pursue the same goals.