WASHINGTON — US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson discussed the dangers of climate change and trade during an Oval Office meeting on Tuesday aimed at highlighting the US-British alliance.

Biden told the visiting prime minister, who once worried his warm relationship with former President Donald Trump would hurt relations under the US Democratic leader, that he looked forward to coming to the United Kingdom for a conference on global warming later this year.

"It's fantastic to see the United States really stepping up and showing a lead, a real, real lead," Johnson said, referring to the issue of global warming.

Under Biden, the United States has renewed pledges to cut greenhouse gases and promised to finance projects to combat climate change.

Johnson took the Amtrak train from the United Nations General Assembly in New York to Washington for the meeting.

"They love you," Johnson said to Biden, seemingly referring to the U.S. railway staff. Biden was a regular train commuter for over 30 years.

"We're going to talk about trade," Biden said when asked about a potential UK-US trade agreement, which would be of great significance for post-Brexit Britain.

Johnson first met Vice President Kamala Harris, who said the United States and Britain are more interconnected than ever before.

Tackling the pandemic, dealing with climate change and upholding democracy around the world remained top priorities for both countries, Harris said.

Johnson praised the US military's role in the "Kabul airlift" and thanked the US government for lifting a ban last year on imports of British beef imposed after an outbreak of mad cow disease.

"I want to thank the US government, your government, for the many ways in which we are cooperating now, I think, at a higher and more intense level than at any time I can remember," Johnson said. — Agencies