"(Calderón) is a principled man with a political and economic vision for Mexico that is grounded in realism," Harper said during a news conference before the two North American leaders began a working lunch.

The trip to Canada was Calderón´s first outside Latin America as president-elect.

Ironically, the visit began on the same day U.S. President George W. Bush signed legislation that approves partitioning 700 miles (1,125 kilometers) of the United States from its southern neighbor.

Calderón said the United States was making "a grave mistake" and compared the fence proposal to the Berlin Wall.

Harper offered cautious support to Calderón´s criticism of the U.S. border wall, saying his government has presented its own arguments against the construction of physical barriers. Canada has also complained to the U.S. government about a new U.S. law that will require Canadians to carry passports when crossing into the United States. A similar law for people traveling from Mexico goes into effect in January.

Besides addressing disagreements with their shared neighbor, Calderón and Harper discussed how to convert the Mexico-Canada Competitivity Alliance into a tool to strengthen their bilateral relationship.

Bilateral trade and mechanisms to improve the North American Free Trade Agreement were also high on their agenda.

Calderón flew to Ottawa on Wednesday night. On Thursday, in addition to meeting with Harper, the president-elect met with opposition party leaders from the Canadian Parliament.

On Friday, Calderón will meet with forestry and environmental experts, business leaders and leaders of Parliament.