Kananaskis (Canada), June 18 – In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, India and Canada have agreed to restore their bilateral relationship by reaffirming a commitment to a constructive and balanced partnership founded on mutual respect, sensitivity to each other’s concerns, and the deep people-to-people ties that have long characterized their relations. The agreement was reached during a bilateral meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit held in Alberta’s Kananaskis region.
This marked the first in-person meeting between the two leaders since Carney assumed office following Canada’s recent general elections. As per agency report, the meeting provided an important opportunity to discuss the current state of India-Canada relations and the path forward in a clear and forward-looking manner.
Both leaders emphasized the importance of upholding democratic values, the rule of law, and the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity as the foundation of the relationship. They reiterated the need to build a partnership that is mindful of each other’s sensitivities, fosters strong people-to-people engagement, and leverages growing economic complementarities.
A key outcome of the meeting was the mutual decision to restore stability in diplomatic relations, beginning with the reappointment of High Commissioners in New Delhi and Ottawa. The leaders also underscored the importance of resuming senior ministerial and working-level meetings across various sectors to rebuild mutual trust and momentum.
Future cooperation was discussed in areas including clean energy, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, liquefied natural gas (LNG), food security, critical minerals, higher education, mobility, and supply chain resilience. The two sides also reiterated their shared interest in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Another focal point of the meeting was the revival of negotiations on the Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA), which would pave the way for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Both leaders agreed to direct their respective officials to resume discussions in this regard.
The meeting concluded with both Prime Ministers expressing their willingness to continue working together on global priorities such as climate action, inclusive growth, and sustainable development, which had been discussed during the G7 summit. They also acknowledged the strong interpersonal connections between the citizens of both nations and committed to leveraging this dynamic bridge for mutual benefit.
Following the meeting, Prime Minister Modi concluded his visit to Canada and departed from Calgary Airport for the final leg of his international trip, heading to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia.
