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Israeli President Shimon Peres called Canada "an extraordinary friend" of Israel Monday before meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Ottawa, a closed-door session that covered trade, peace and security, among other issues.

Harper welcomed Peres in the Centre Block rotunda, where the Israeli president signed a guest book and then met the Speakers of both the House of Commons and Senate.

"Your remarks about Israel are outstanding," Peres told Harper before they headed into their meeting. "It really moved the hearts of our people."

While it was unclear which remarks Peres was referring to, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird recently said in a speech that "Israel has no greater friend in the world today than Canada."

Baird reiterated that sentiment on CTV's Power Play on Monday when asked if such statements don't appear too one-sided.

"Israel is the only liberal democracy in the region," Baird said. "We strongly support the desire of the Palestinian people to form an independent state. We're providing $300 million in direct support to the Palestinian Authority's efforts to strengthen their security, to strengthen their economic development initiatives. Those initiatives have been very successful."

Peres also looked back to his first visit to Canada 60 years ago and "the deep friendship that has existed between our peoples from our first day of independence."

"Since then I carry in my heart the feeling that Canada is a continent of friendliness, displaying support and care," said Peres.

After Harper's meeting with Peres, the Prime Minister's Office issued a statement saying the two "discussed the uncertain security environment and the importance of diplomacy as the primary instrument for peace and security."

Earlier Monday, Peres lauded the relationship his country and Canada enjoy as he arrived in Ottawa.

The 88-year-old Peres was greeted by a 100-member military guard of honour and a 21-gun salute, along with school children waving small Israeli flags and offering flowers.

An RCMP detachment on horseback escorted his car as it rolled up the driveway to the Governor General's residence, Rideau Hall.

Peres told the gathered crowd he visited Canada 60 years ago for the first time and has had warm feelings for the country and its people ever since.

"I carry in my heart the feeling that Canada is a continent of friendliness . . . I sense that Canada is always positive, never indifferent," he said, speaking in both French and English during his address.

"(Canada) supplies Israel and the world with a fresh and clean hope of building bridges and closing gaps," Peres said.

Gov. Gen. David Johnston said the two countries are brought together by "vibrant people-to-people exchanges" that he likes to call "the diplomacy of knowledge."

"Canada's Jewish population has contributed so much to our well being, continuing a tradition of innovation, learning, caring and culturalism that we value so highly," he said.

"In every area of our society and throughout our history, Jewish people have made extraordinary contributions," Johnston said, noting the 17,000 Jewish-Canadians who served in the Second World War to help end the Holocaust.

Peres said it's Israel's desire to find peace in the Middle East, but it's also a must to be on constant alert against "uninvited dangers."

He also said Israel is blessed with "an outstanding Jewish community in Canada" that makes relations between the two nations "intensive and unique."

‘A person of great experience'

Peres, who arrived in Canada on Sunday night, also met interim Liberal leader Bob Rae Monday before a state dinner hosted by Johnston.

The Israeli president is to meet NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair on Tuesday and travel to Toronto and Montreal later in the week.

In a release, Rae said that in several meetings he has had with Peres since 1979, he "always found him to be a person of great experience, wisdom and candour."

Rae also said it is his party's belief that peace between Israelis and Palestinians will only come through "direct negotiations."

"The Liberal party remains committed to a secure and democratic Israel, a stable and democratic Palestinian state and to the ultimate goal of peace in the region," Rae said.

Earlier this year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Canada during a period of high tensions with Iran over its nuclear ambitions.

Netanyahu was stressing Israel's right to act pre-emptively against Iran, which it considers a major threat.

It isn't clear how far Harper would support Israel in taking military action against Iran. He has been a staunch supporter of the nation in the past, but suggested during Netanyahu's visit that Canada would prefer to see a peaceful solution.

Peres is expected to receive a warm welcome from Mulcair during his visit.

In 2008, Mulcair was quoted as saying his wife's parents were Holocaust survivors and as a result he was an "ardent supporter" of Israel.

Peres and Mulcair are scheduled to talk for around 30 minutes on Tuesday afternoon -- a meeting Mulcair's office said was standard practice for the leader of the Official Opposition.

Peres' visit to Canada is expected to take a much less political tone than that of the more hawkish Netanyahu.

The president's role in Israel is largely ceremonial but he's considered highly influential.

Peres flew to Ottawa via Air Canada after Israel's national airline El Al attempted to charge him close to $5,000 to bring an oxygen tank on the plane.

An oxygen tank is part of the medical equipment an Israeli president is required to have on-hand whenever he or she travels, according to The Associated Press.

With files from CTVNews.ca's Andy Johnson and John Size