Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has praised India's attendance at the G7 Summit as a guest of honor, terming it as a sign of the increased international influence of India and leadership by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In Tuesday's bilateral meeting, Carney highlighted that India's engagement is important in working together to tackle global issues such as the war against terrorism.
Acknowledging Carney's warm welcome, PM Modi thanked him for the invitation to the summit and said, "It is my honour to be visiting Canada after 2015 and being present with the people here."
He also emphasized India's role on the global stage, especially in its recent G20 presidency. Modi said that as the largest democracy in the world, India made a number of effective decisions during its leadership in the G20, and those foundations are now changing and expanding at the G7 level. "In the G7 Summit today, the robust foundation which India had created at the G20 Summit has taken a new shape and got new direction in its implementation.". a chance for India to work towards humanitarian good for which it is always dedicated today and in the future," he added.
Referring to bilateral relations, PM Modi pointed out the robustness of India-Canada relations: "India and Canada have good relations.". Canadian businesses are investing here and Indian citizens have similarly invested in the great Canadian soil." He further highlighted commonalities of values: "Both nations are dedicated to the sustenance of democratic values, upholding democracy and humanity as well as optimisation of our resources for humanitarian good." Modi also wished Carney congratulations on his recent election and was keen to collaborate with him through his term.
On X (ex-Twitter), PM Modi posted an optimistic update after meeting: "PM Carney and I look forward to closely working together in order to bring momentum to the India-Canada friendship. Sectors such as trade, energy, space, clean energy, critical minerals, fertilisers and more hold immense potential to that effect. @MarkJCarney."
He further added, "Our meeting was excellent," stressing that the two nations are held together by "a strong belief in democracy, freedom and rule of law."
India's involvement with the G7 started at the Biarritz Summit in France in 2019. While observing India's steady presence, Carney stated: "It's a testament to the importance of your country, to your leadership, and to the importance of the issues that we look to tackle together."
Citing priority sectors for cooperation, Carney said: "From energy security, from the energy transition that you're looking to spearhead, to the future of artificial intelligence to the battle that we face against transnational repression. against terrorism. and against other factors."
Carney's initiative to enhance India-Canada relations follows a troubled period of relations under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose administration had been accused of its alignment with Khalistani sympathizers and questionable accusations against India.
Reiterating the importance of India's position, Carney—during the hosting of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis—stated, "India is the fifth-largest economy in the world, the most populous country in the world and central to supply chains."
He also pointed out the depth of the people-to-people ties, recognizing that Canada has one of the largest Indian diaspora communities with 1.8 million Indo-Canadians and a million Indian citizens living in Canada.
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