India, Canada review strategic partnership as Anita Anand meets Jaishankar in New Delhi, with trade and security talks

According to the department’s readout, Anand is in India to deepen bilateral relations, discuss regional and global issues and continue to advance the priorities of the Canada-India joint roadmap.

Roadmap review

The ministers discussed what the readout called the "positive momentum" in the renewed partnership, which Global Affairs Canada said has been underpinned by sustained high-level engagement over the past year.

They reviewed progress since the joint roadmap was launched during Anand’s first visit to India a year ago, and discussed ways to advance its priorities further.

Anand stressed the importance Canada places on India as a valuable partner, "particularly at a time of geopolitical uncertainty," the readout said.

Security and trade

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

They also welcomed efforts to advance negotiations on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement. The readout pointed to the Team Canada Trade Mission, led by International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu, as a tangible example of growing economic partnership and expanding bilateral trade.

On wider issues, the two discussed the Middle East conflict and the war in Ukraine, which the Canadian readout described as "unjustified." The readout did not say whether India shared that description or what position Jaishankar took.

The ministers welcomed upcoming high-level engagements between the two countries and agreed to remain in close contact, Global Affairs Canada said.

Anand also meets Modi

Anand also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, according to an account of the meeting. The two discussed efforts to strengthen bilateral ties across trade, science and technology, defence, security, energy, education, people-to-people ties and multilateral cooperation.

Modi stressed the need to sustain the momentum in bilateral engagement and turn it into tangible outcomes, including through an early conclusion of negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the account said.

He also conveyed his greetings to Prime Minister Mark Carney and said he looked forward to continuing their engagements.

The meeting followed a telephone conversation between Modi and Carney on Tuesday. The Indian side described that discussion as warm and productive, with both leaders agreeing to build on the positive momentum and pursue concrete outcomes across trade, energy, technology, security and people-to-people ties.