NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar met his Canadian counterpart Anita Anand in New Delhi on Wednesday to review bilateral relations, with discussions covering trade, investment, education, energy, defence and people-to-people exchanges.The two ministers also exchanged views on key regional and global developments and discussed ways to advance the Strategic Partnership between the two countries.“Delighted to meet FM @AnitaAnandMP of Canada in New Delhi today. Reviewed progress in our ties across trade & investment, education, energy, defence and people-to-people exchanges. Also exchanged views on key regional and global developments. Guided by our leadership and sustained engagement across government and industry, we are advancing our Strategic Partnership,” Jaishankar said in a post on X.The meeting follows Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s telephone conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, during which the two leaders agreed to build on the positive momentum in bilateral ties and pursue concrete outcomes across key areas of cooperation.
PM Modi, Carney discuss trade, security and CEPA
PM Modi said the two leaders had a “warm and productive conversation” and agreed to work towards tangible results in trade, energy, technology, security and people-to-people ties.“Together, India and Canada are contributing towards a more stable and prosperous world,” PM Modi added in his post on X.When asked about the conversation between both leaders, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Wednesday said, “Prime Minister Carney had visited India recently, I mean some months back, and there is a positive momentum in this particular relationship on various aspects of our bilateral cooperation, strategic partnership and its progress in the areas of trade, investment, energy, technology, security, all these aspects that came up for discussion when the two Prime Ministers had their conversation on the bilateral relationship. So that is where we are.”According to a statement from the Canadian Prime Minister’s Office, the leaders welcomed increased engagement over the past year and reaffirmed their commitment to conclude negotiations on the India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) at the earliest opportunity.The agreement is intended to support efforts to double bilateral trade by 2030. The two leaders also welcomed the ongoing Team Canada Trade Mission to India and discussed the impact of geopolitical instability on the Indo-Pacific region, as well as the importance of trusted partners in energy and agriculture.They also welcomed a bilateral security dialogue held in India the previous week as part of ongoing security and law enforcement engagement at the national security adviser level. Carney thanked PM Modi for his leadership in seeking a peaceful resolution to Russia’s war on Ukraine.The two prime ministers agreed to remain in close contact ahead of Modi’s planned visit to Canada in December.
Trade negotiations and corporate delegation
The diplomatic engagement comes as commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal and Canada’s minister of international trade, Maninder Sidhu, discuss progress on CEPA negotiations.Goyal said the discussions focused on a balanced and mutually beneficial agreement that would improve market access and create fresh opportunities for trade and investment.“Discussed advancing the India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) negotiations, with a focus on a balanced, mutually beneficial agreement that enhances market access and unlocks new trade and investment opportunities. Confident that the CEPA will provide fresh momentum to bilateral trade and strengthen our economic partnership for shared prosperity,” Goyal said in a post on X.Sidhu is leading a Canadian corporate delegation of around 300 members on a visit to India, Canada’s largest such delegation to the country in three decades.The delegation is exploring potential joint ventures across sectors including aerospace, clean energy, technology, life sciences, agri-food and forestry. Sidhu said Canada was also advancing CEPA negotiations to create more opportunities for Canadian businesses and workers.
Anand’s third visit to India since June 2025
Anand arrived in India on Tuesday. The MEA described the visit as reflecting sustained high-level engagement and positive momentum in bilateral relations.
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“A warm welcome to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, Anita Anand, on her visit to India. This is the third visit to India by Minister Anand since June 2025, reflecting the sustained high-level engagement and positive momentum in India-Canada relations,” the ministry said in a post on X.“The visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to build on the recent progress and further advance our bilateral partnership,” it added.The meetings come as the two countries seek to advance cooperation across trade, energy, technology, security and other areas while working towards a comprehensive economic partnership agreement.