External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar, on Monday, held bilateral talks Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand in New Delhi, as both nations reaffirmed their commitment to rebuilding trust and deepening cooperation across multiple sectors.
Opening the talks, Jaishankar referred to India’s positive approach to bilateral engagement.
“As PM Modi noted during his meeting with PM Carney in Kananaskis, India’s approach is to move forward with a positive mindset. This morning, you met the PM and heard from him personally about our vision of cooperation and how to best realise it,” he noted.
Furthermore, he highlighted Canada’s complementary economy and pluralistic society as the basis for a sustainable partnership. “When we look at Canada, we see a complementary economy, we see another open society, we see diversity and pluralism and we believe that it is the basis for a close, sustainable and long-term cooperative framework,” Jaishankar said.
Also noting the progress in recent months, he added, “Our meeting today continues the constructive conversations that we have been having since our telephone call on 26th May. India-Canada bilateral relations have been steadily progressing in the last two months. We are working to restore and reinvigorate the mechanisms necessary to advance our partnership.”
Jaishankar outlined an ambitious roadmap for cooperation across trade, investment, agriculture, science and technology, civil nuclear projects, AI, critical minerals, and energy. “I am glad that the two High Commissioners have assumed their responsibilities in our respective capitals and are part of today’s meetings,” he said.
He also stressed the broader responsibility of foreign ministers in guiding bilateral engagement. “Our responsibility as Foreign Ministers is to shepherd the process of rebuilding our cooperation and to ensure that it delivers on the expectations of our PMs and the interests of our people," further adding, "It means not only taking initiatives in our particular jurisdiction but to monitor and integrate interactions across the entire breadth of the government. I look forward to doing so, working closely with you…We (India-Canada) seek to de-risk the international economy today by forging strong partnerships of growing range and depth.”
Anand, who arrived in India on Sunday evening, thanked the EAM for the warm reception.
“Namaste, thank you so much for the warm welcome that we’ve received this morning. We are so grateful to be able to further the Canada-India relationship with you here in New Delhi today. I want to first and foremost extend my appreciation to you for the conversation that you and I have had since I was appointed as Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs on May 13th".
She further noted, "Equally, Prime Minister Carney was pleased to welcome Prime Minister Modi to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, where they had a productive bilateral engagement that informs the conversation we are having here today,” she said.
Anand also highlighted the India-Canada Joint Statement as a key framework for cooperation. “Today, we’ll be discussing the India-Canada Joint Statement, which is comprehensive and covers a number of issues that will allow us to continue the work to elevate the bilateral relationship,” the Canadian FM said.
On security cooperation, she added, “I appreciate the words you spoke relating to the security dialogue, which, while we elevate the relationship in areas of critical minerals, energy, AI, and climate, to name a few, will continue. The meeting that our officials had relating to security and law enforcement just a few weeks ago here was very productive, and that dialogue will continue. Both of our governments agree on the importance of those dialogues.”
She also stressed on the long-term vision for engagement. “Both of our governments agree on the importance of elevating the relationship going further. So this joint statement will discuss our mutual plans for re-engagement. It will inform Canadians and Indians alike that we are collectively committed to advancing this relationship now and in the long term, particularly when it comes to our mutual priorities in the Indo-Pacific".
During her visit, Anand is also scheduled to meet Union Minister Piyush Goyal and travel to Mumbai to engage with business communities, promoting investment, job creation, and economic opportunities as part of Canada’s broader Indo-Pacific strategy.
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