Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian on Tuesday, seeking to inject fresh momentum into India-Canada relations. The two leaders agreed to accelerate negotiations for a long-pending trade pact and deepen cooperation in defence and strategic sectors.
Positive Momentum in Bilateral Ties
Reviewing the state of bilateral ties, Modi and Carney welcomed what they described as the 'positive momentum' in relations since Carney's visit to India in March this year. They reaffirmed their commitment to building a 'forward-looking strategic partnership' and set an ambitious target of concluding negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2026.
Energy and Economic Cooperation
The leaders reviewed progress in economic cooperation, including commercial arrangements involving liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and metallurgical coal. They underlined the importance of resilient supply chains for global energy and food security.
Noting Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal's recent visit to Canada, the leaders looked forward to a Canadian trade mission to India later this year, led by Canada's Minister of International Trade.
Defence and Security Collaboration
Seeking to expand security ties, Modi and Carney agreed to launch negotiations on a General Security of Information Agreement (GSOIA), aimed at facilitating closer defence and intelligence cooperation. They also welcomed recent exchanges between defence institutions, including the visit of India's National Defence College to Canada.
Institutional Mechanisms and Innovation
The two sides expressed satisfaction over the strengthening of institutional mechanisms, citing recent meetings of the Joint Science and Technology Committee and the Consular Dialogue. They agreed to hold further engagements in defence, finance and migration. The leaders highlighted ongoing cooperation under the Canada-India Talent and Innovation Strategy, which seeks to boost skill development, innovation partnerships and academic collaboration.
New Initiatives and Invitation
In a significant gesture, Modi conveyed India's support for Canada becoming a Dialogue Partner of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). The leaders also announced the establishment of 'Raisina Americas', a new platform to promote dialogue and strengthen cooperation between India and countries in the Americas.
Modi thanked Carney for inviting him to visit Canada later this year. Both sides agreed to remain in touch through diplomatic channels to finalise mutually convenient dates for the visit.
The meeting marked another step in the effort by New Delhi and Ottawa to rebuild ties and expand cooperation in trade, energy and security after relations had come under severe strain in recent years.
