Trudeau, Pena Nieto celebrate renewed friendship at official dinner in Toronto

Prime Minister JustinTrudeauwelcomed Mexican President EnriquePenaNietotoCanada at an official dinner in Toronto on Monday night.

The leaders toastedeach other at CasaLoma, a castle-like landmarkin midtown Toronto,and said they were celebrating a renewedfriendship between Canada and Mexico.

Trudeaunoted it has been some timesince a Mexican president visited Canada.

"It's hard to believe that more than six years have passed since we last welcomed a Mexican president on a state visit. I'm sure that everyone in this room will agree when I say that six years is too long to wait for visits between friends,"Trudeausaid.

"Of course, Canada and Mexico are more than just friends. We are partners, and it's what we share as partners and friends that I'd like to celebrate tonight. We share a continent, but we also share connections between people."

Trudeausaid the people of Canada and Mexico, including as tourists and students,have a long history together.

"And of course, we have shared economic interests too."

He said Canada and Mexico want a relationship that allows for"greater trade, stronger growth and more job creation."

Trudeaunoted that Mexico sent 41 firefighters to FortMcMurray,Alta.,to help fight the wildfire that destroyed neighbourhoods in thenorthern Alberta city. "That kind of help is exactly what good friends do. We appreciate it and we will not forget it."

Trudeausaid he andPenaNietowill discuss trade, ways tofacilitatethemovement of people between Canada and Mexico, Indigenous issuesand climate change.

PenaNieto, in his toast toTrudeau, said Canada and Mexico share values, including openness, respect and freedom. He said these values strengthen and renew the friendship between Canada and Mexico.

"You will find in Mexico a partner and you will find a friend in me,"PenaNietosaid in Spanish.

A handful of protesters greetedPenaNietoon Monday as he arrived at theofficialdinner.

The protesters were angry that the Canadian government has welcomedPenaNietoafter recent clashes in Mexico'sOaxacastate between police and teachers. At least eightpeople were reportedly killed.

The visit comes ahead of Wednesday's Three Amigos summit in Ottawa, which will also be attended by U.S. PresidentBarackObama.

Ontario Premier KathleenWynneis also attending the dinner at CasaLoma.

"We want to work in partnership with Mexico. It's about finding the right place in the global economy. It's not about building walls,"Wynnetold reporters Monday morning.

The Ontario premier had held closed-door talks withPenaNietoat a Toronto hotel before the evening's state dinner.

AmandaSicilia, marketing and social mediaco-ordinatorfor CasaLoma, said the dinner would be heldin CasaLoma'sglass pavilion.

BeaverTails, maple walnutgelatofor dessert

For hors d'oeuvres, the three leaderswere servedmisoB.C. steelhead salmon, lime caviar, petit Montreal smoked meat on rye,MonforteDairychevretempura squash blossom, wild strawberry gazpacho, Kind Organicsmicrogreens, Prince Edward County beeftatakiandfoiegrasstuffed black trufflemacarons.

The first course was billed as "Coast to Coast Seafood Trio." That means seared Nova Scotia scallops, B.C. spot prawns and castle grown chervil salad and West CoastDungenesscrabpannacotta.

The main course, called the "Finest of the Prairies," was 72-hoursousvide Alberta short rib, foraged Ontario morelcafaulaitand Barrie Hill Farms asparagus, withceleriacpure.

Dessert was miniBeaverTailsand homespun maple walnutgelato.

Wines served wereBachelderNiagaraChardonnay2013 andColaneriCabernet Franc 2013.