Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper congratulated Tuesday Barack Obama as he was sworn in as new U.S. president and pledged to build on the special relationship between the two countries.

"On behalf of all Canadians, I want to offer my heartfelt congratulations to Barack Obama as he assumes office as president of the United States of America and wish him and his administration well as they begin their new term in office," Harper said in the statement.

"We also send our warmest wishes to our American neighbors as they celebrate this historic day with their friends around the world," it said.

"The United States remains Canada's most important ally, closest friend and largest trading partner and I look forward to working with President Obama and his administration as we build on this special relationship," Harper said.

Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States at a ceremony in Washington earlier Tuesday. He will visit Canada on his first foreign tour in the near future.

(Xinhua News Agency January 21, 2009)