EAM Jaishankar and Canadian counterpart Anand discuss trade, investment, critical minerals, AI, and civil nuclear collaboration
New Delhi: External affairs minister S. Jaishankar on Monday held talks here with visiting Canadian foreign minister Anita Anand, who is of Indian origin, as both nations announced they had reached a consensus on a “New Roadmap for India-Canada relations” based on “mutual respect for shared democratic values, the rule of law, and a commitment to upholding the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
The talks proved a major step forward in rebuilding of ties, with both nations deciding to strengthen ties in sectors like trade, oil and gas, civil nuclear energy, mining and critical minerals, clean technologies, environment protection, electricity grid management, artificial intelligence (AI), digital infrastructure, education, tourism, cultural exchange, and professional mobility.
At the talks, the two foreign ministers “recognised that in the context of ongoing global economic uncertainty and rising geopolitical tensions, a strong and resilient India-Canada bilateral relationship is essential”. They agreed that reviving this partnership will “create opportunities for enhanced economic cooperation, ensure more reliable supply chains and help mitigate vulnerabilities arising from shifting global alliances”, a veiled reference to policies of both the United States and China.
The Canadian foreign minister also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who told her that her visit “would contribute to ongoing efforts to impart new momentum to the India-Canada bilateral partnership”. Mr Modi also “conveyed his warm wishes to Prime Minister Mark Carney and said that he looked forward to their upcoming engagements”, the PMO said. Both Prime Ministers had met in Canada in June this year and had agreed to reset ties after two years of sharp deterioration under the previous government of Justin Trudeau, who had levelled "absurd and baseless" allegations of Indian involvement in the killing of pro-Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil.
“India-Canada bilateral relations have been steadily progressing in the last few months. We are working to restore and reinvigorate the mechanisms necessary to advance our partnership… India's approach is to move forward with a positive mindset,” Mr Jaishankar told Ms Anand, adding she had heard from Mr Modi “personally about our vision of cooperation and how best to realise it”.
Amid India’s concerns on activities of pro-Khalistan extremists in Canada, the EAM noted that “our national security advisers and their teams had a productive meeting on September 18 in New Delhi, which was an important first step towards enhancing our security cooperation”. The Canadian foreign minister on her part termed the security and law enforcement dialogue last month as “very productive”, and declared after Monday’s meeting that the two sides are “collectively committed to advancing” and elevating ties besides increasing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. With an obvious eye on China, Mr Jaishankar told Ms Anand: “Our convergences in the Indo-Pacific are notable.”
A joint statement suggested measures “to identify how Canada’s mining expertise can provide India with critical minerals needed for energy security” and holding the first Critical Minerals Annual Dialogue on the margins of the Prospectors and Developers Association Conference in Toronto in March next year. It also welcomed ongoing discussions in civil nuclear cooperation in support of clean energy transitions and also discussions between India’s Department of Atomic Energy and Canadian uranium suppliers, “from the standpoint of existing and proposed new mines”. The high commissions and consulates of both countries will “strengthen institutional capacity by progressively deploying expertise in the economic, political, defence, and technology domains to contribute to rebuilding trust and deepening cooperation between the two countries”, it added.
