India: The Ministry of External Affairs of India has confirmed that during a meeting at the India-Canada Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) in Ottawa on April 11, 2023, India and Canada decided to strengthen and expand their bilateral ties.
The momentum between India and Canada and the problems regionally, notably the Indo-Pacific region, were discussed. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India and Canada seek to expand their collaboration with international organisations.
Sourabh Kumar, Secretary of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in (East) Canada, was the delegation’s leader during the discussions. The representative for Canada was David Morrison, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Global Affairs Canada.
According to MEA, several subjects were highlighted during the discussions, including ongoing bilateral conversations and mechanisms and forthcoming ministerial visits to forward the agenda for collaboration.
Additionally, the Indian government’s ongoing G20 presidency and leadership have received much support from the Canadian government.
It was further said that India and Canada would collaborate to ensure the G20’s success. The FOC meetings between the two countries were held in March of last year, and sources indicated that India will host the subsequent FOC meeting.
Both ministers indicated a desire and interest in developing the ties between their nations in several areas. They are eager to join the Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA).
The sources added that both nations shared close connections and strong ties based on democratic principles. India and Canada have a recognised cooperative relationship in the domains of technology, economics, defence, security, research, and education.
It was stated that the strong bond between the citizens of India and Canada unites the two nations at their core. The foundation of bonds is long-standing connections strengthened via people-to-people interaction.
According to the release, India is a well-known source of immigration to Canada, and there are currently 1.8 million Canadians of Indian descent living there.