New Delhi, Oct. 13 Prime Minister Modi on Monday received Canada Foreign Minister John Baird and Canada Minister of International Trade Ed Fast in the national capital.
Expressing satisfaction at the comprehensive nature of bilateral ties between India and Canada, including in areas of economic cooperation, agriculture, security, civil nuclear energy, education, and science and technology, Prime Minister Modi called for strengthening bilateral engagement in the areas of trade and investment, energy, healthcare, infrastructure development and people-to-people contacts.
Inviting Prime Minister Modi to visit Ottawa on behalf of Canada Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Baird also conveyed the commitment of Canadian Government to further strengthen the strategic partnership with India. Ed Fast also sought an earlier conclusion of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement between the two countries.
Prime Minister Modi in turn stated that he looks forward to visiting Canada at a mutually convenient date and added that he will be meeting Prime Minister Harper at the upcoming G-20 Summit in Brisbane, Australia.
India and Canada have longstanding bilateral relationship based on shared democratic values, pluralistic societies and strong people-to-people contacts. In recent years, both countries have been working to enhance bilateral cooperation in a number of areas of mutual importance. Several high level visits have taken place during recent years, including at the Prime Ministerial level.
