Canada’s foreign minister Mélanie Joly meets Indian counterpart for Strategic Dialogue
By SHRI RAM SHAW
New Delhi: Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, and India’s Minister of External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met today (Tuesday, 7 February) in New Delhi for the Canada-India Strategic Dialogue. Marking a decade since the first Strategic Dialogue was held, the meeting attests to the enduring, close ties between Canada and India as well as “continued collaboration on shared foreign policy priorities”.
During the meeting, both the Ministers discussed strengthening the economic partnership between Canada and India, advancing security cooperation, facilitating migration and mobility between the two countries, and growing strong people-to-people ties.
They also discussed furthering Canada-India cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, following the announcement of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy in November. Canada and India share a common vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, anchored in “shared values of democracy, pluralism, and the rule of law”.
Jaishankar and Joly also exchanged views on priorities for the G20, which India is hosting this year. Joly said, Canada and India will work closely together to achieve ambitious outcomes in the G20 including on priority areas like economic growth, women-led development, and green transitions.
Looking ahead, Joly and Jaishankar have vowed to continue to work towards advancing the Canada-India Partnership for Security and Growth as part of wider and growing cooperation between “governments on a range of shared priorities this year.”
Mélanie Joly said, “Simply put: the rise of the Indo-Pacific can create extraordinary local benefits, as well as opportunities for prosperity, economic growth and better paying jobs across Canada. From Cleantech to critical minerals and education programs, there is a demand in India for what Canadians make, and grow, and the services we provide. I am looking forward to strengthen our engagement, which is paramount to our Indo-Pacific Strategy.”
Because of its strategic, economic and demographic importance in the world, India is a critical partner in Canada’s pursuit of its objectives under our Indo-Pacific strategy (IPS) and on the global stage, she added.
She is on a two-day visit to Delhi (from February 6 to 7) to deepen bilateral ties and foster stronger partnerships. She is striving to build on the two countries’ shared tradition of democracy and pluralism, a common commitment to a rules-based international system and multilateralism, mutual interest in expanding our commercial relationship and strengthening our extensive and growing people-to-people connections.
She met with her Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to advance Canada’s engagement with India under the Indo-Pacific Strategy, and create opportunities for growth and prosperity for the two countries. Both ministers identified areas where Canadian and Indian interests converge and where the two countries could further collaborate on global and regional issues, especially as India holds the presidency of the G20 this year.
Joly also engaged with key stakeholders in India’s business and civil society communities regarding Canada’s robust agenda with India under the IPS. She sought to generate momentum for a stronger, more open and more prosperous partnership between Canada and the Indo-Pacific region that “firmly supports regional peace, stability and the rules-based international order”.
Quick Facts…
Prior to this visit, Minister Joly had held two bilateral meetings and two calls with Minister Jaishankar.
Canada and India have deep ties built on shared democratic values and a long-standing friendship. The wide-ranging bilateral cooperation between Canada and India spans the fields of science and technology, finance, education, defence and security.
The deep people-to-people connections between Canada and India are at the heart of our relationship. There are 1.8 million Canadians of Indian origin in Canada, and India is the primary source of new immigrants to Canada.
In 2021, India was Canada’s 13th-largest merchandise trade partner, and the relationship has been steadily growing. Two-way foreign direct investment between Canada and India amounted to $4.6 billion, with Canadian direct investment in India standing at $2.9 billion. In addition, Canadian portfolio and institutional investment into India reached $70 billion.