At a G7 Summit meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney discussed the need to repair the strained relationship between their countries. The leaders agreed on concrete measures to restore stability, including the immediate return of High Commissioners to their respective posts.
The meeting facilitated open and future-oriented dialogue regarding the course of India-Canada relations. Both leaders acknowledged the value of the relationship based on shared democratic values and a commitment to mutual respect and cooperation. They stressed the importance of balancing concerns with strong economic ties and people-to-people connections.
A key outcome was the agreement to take measured steps to re-establish a stable relationship. Both nations will restart engagement at various levels to restore trust and promote progress. The discussions included potential collaboration in areas such as renewable energy, digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals.
Modi and Carney also discussed the Indo-Pacific region, the Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA), and the upcoming Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). They plan to task their officials to continue the negotiations on the trade agreements.
The leaders expressed their mutual interest in global issues such as climate action and sustainable development. They recognized the strong connections between the people of the two nations, and they pledged to strengthen them. The move to restore relations comes after recent diplomatic tension concerning the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, where India denied allegations of involvement.