Canada encouraged by India ties reset, both sides pursue year-end trade deal

Canadian foreign minister Anita Anand met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and external affairs minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday and said closer engagement offers an opportunity to shape the future and contribute to a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific as the international order undergoes a profound change.

In Delhi to participate in the Bloomberg Economic Summit, Anand said she felt encouraged by the distance the two countries have travelled after deciding to reset ties last year, ending the two-year-long bitterness over former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegation that the Indian government had a hand in the murder of Khalistan advocate Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.

After meeting Jaishankar, the Canadian minister said on X: “Exactly one year ago in New Delhi, I met with my Indian counterpart to establish a joint roadmap for Canada-India relations. Returning today, I am encouraged by how far we have come — from advancing trade negotiations to expanding cooperation on energy, innovation and security.

“The significance of this relationship lies in what our two countries can achieve together. At a time when the international order is undergoing profound change, close engagement between Canada and India offers an opportunity to shape our future prosperity and contribute to a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”

Jaishankar said they reviewed progress in bilateral ties across trade and 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 posted on X.

According to the Canadian foreign ministry readout, the ministers also welcomed the recent bilateral security dialogue held in India at the National Security Advisor level, where senior officials from both countries reviewed progress in bilateral security and law enforcement cooperation and committed to sustained engagement on security issues of mutual interest.

The two countries hope to close the free trade agreement by the year-end. According to the Canadian side, Modi is scheduled to visit Canada in December. Anand repeated this after meeting with the Prime Minister.