India, Canada to take ties to 'higher level': EAM

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced on Saturday that India and Canada are set to elevate their bilateral relationship, following a constructive conversation with Canadian External Affairs Minister Anita Anand during the UN General Assembly. Jaishankar expressed his delight at the meeting, stating that the two nations are preparing to strengthen their ties further.

Earlier this week, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney suggested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be visiting Canada around December, indicating that the two countries are making significant strides in their trade negotiations. Carney emphasized that the relationship between India and Canada is of immense importance, encompassing various facets such as people-to-people connections, security, and economic cooperation.

The two nations had previously committed to finalizing negotiations by the G20 summit this year, with the goal of doubling bilateral trade to $70 billion Canadian dollars annually by 2030. Relations between India and Canada had previously soured under previous Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, following allegations of Indian government involvement in the killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

However, the two countries have recently shown signs of reconciliation, with the return of high commissioners and numerous high-level engagements.