PM Modi visits Canada this December to boost strategic ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a two-day official trip to Canada starting December 11, focusing on expanding strategic cooperation. Officials from India's High Commission in Ottawa confirmed the schedule Friday, noting it follows a highly productive telephone exchange between Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Both leaders expressed a mutual desire to achieve concrete advancements across trade, energy, technology, and security sectors.

Expanding trade objectives

Geopolitical stability in the Indo-Pacific region and securing reliable agricultural and energy partnerships remain central to these upcoming discussions. Canadian authorities emphasized their ongoing dedication to finalizing the proposed Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) at the earliest opportunity. Negotiators from both countries hope this framework will successfully double bilateral commerce before 2030. Carney specifically acknowledged Modi’s diplomatic efforts toward finding a peaceful resolution to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. Following their Tuesday call, Modi publicly stated that India and Canada are working collaboratively to foster a more stable global environment.

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Laying diplomatic groundwork

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand recently visited New Delhi to prepare for this high-level summit. Meeting with Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday, Anand focused on evaluating progress made since her previous visit last year. She stressed that the nearly 80-year diplomatic relationship between the two nations relies heavily on deep personal connections established by generations of families, students, and entrepreneurs. Concurrently, Canadian Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu is leading a large delegation of roughly 300 business representatives across India. This extensive Team Canada Trade Mission aims to identify new commercial ventures, ensuring robust private sector momentum aligns perfectly with the approaching December leadership summit.

With Inputs from agency Threads and Image Courtesy: ANI