In a key bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, agreed to take “calibrated steps” to stabilise and rebuild the strained ties between India and Canada.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri described the meeting as “very positive and constructive,” adding that both leaders underlined the importance of the relationship, grounded in “shared values, democracy, the rule of law, and people-to-people contact.”
“The Prime Ministers agreed to take calibrated steps to restore stability to this very important relationship,” Misri told reporters in Kananaskis, Alberta, where the G7 Summit is underway. “The first of these steps will be the early restoration of High Commissioners to each other’s capitals.”
Further, the foreign secretary said that the discussions explored a wide array of potential areas for collaboration, including clean energy, digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, food security, critical minerals, LNG, higher education, mobility, and supply chain resilience. The two leaders reaffirmed their shared interest in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Trade negotiations, which had stalled amid diplomatic tensions, were another major agenda item. The leaders agreed on the importance of restarting negotiations on the Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA), with a view to paving the way for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
“The leaders have agreed to remain in touch and meet again at the earliest opportunity,” Misri said.
Carney, attending his first G7 Summit as prime minister, described India’s participation as a reflection of its rising global stature. “India’s presence here underscores its importance on the world stage and Prime Minister Modi’s leadership,” he said, also acknowledging New Delhi’s contributions to global counter-terrorism efforts.
PM Modi thanked Carney for the G7 invitation and recalled his last visit to Canada in 2015. He noted that India’s G20 presidency had laid a strong foundation for initiatives now gaining traction at the G7.
“It is my honour to visit Canada once again. The strong foundation India laid during the G20 Summit has taken a new shape and given new direction at the G7,” the Prime Minister said.
The meeting marked the first in-person interaction between the two leaders since Carney assumed office following Canada’s recent general elections. It came amid efforts to restore stability and momentum to bilateral ties, which had been strained in recent times.
from National https://ift.tt/DrvkhNc