Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s seven-day visit to India is aimed at intensifying defence and counter-terror cooperation besides expanding trade and investment ties. His visit comes three years after PM Narendra Modi’s state visit to Canada.
- Trudeau will meet PM Modi in Delhi on 23 February
- The Canadian PM’s itinerary includes Delhi, Agra, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Amritsar
- India’s concerns over rising Sikh radicalism in Canada is likely to be discussed during the visit
Candian PM Trudeau Touches Down
#WATCH Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived in Delhi with his family for a week-long visit to India pic.twitter.com/swiAyKZHMN
— ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2018
Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, accompanied by his wife Madame Sophie Gregoire Trudeau and their three children arrived in India on a State Visit on Saturday.
India Likely to Raise Issue of Growing Sikh Radicalism
India’s concerns over rising Sikh radicalism in Canada are understood to have figured during a meeting between National Security Advisers of the two countries this week, and the issue may figure during Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s talks with Indian leadership.
In response to a question on whether India will take up the issue of rising pro-Khalistan radicalism in Canada during Trudeau’s visit, external affairs ministry indicated that it may be raised.
Canadian diplomatic sources, while talking about the meeting held between the two NSAs in New Delhi a couple of days back to prepare the ground for Trudeau’s visit, indicated that New Delhi’s concerns over Sikh radicalism in Canada figured in the meeting.
“This is an important visit. All issues, which are of interest to us…which are of bilateral interests will be up on the agenda,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, when asked whether the issue will be taken up by India during Trudeau’s visit.
The negotiators of both the countries met last week to overcome the hurdles in finalising the pact, the sources said, adding Canadian investments in India were around USD 15 billion in the last couple of years, and a free trade pact will further encourage investors from that country.
A number of Canadian pension funds are also keen to invest in India.
When referred to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh calling Canadian Defence Minister Sajjan as “Khalistani sympathiser” ahead of his visit here last year, the diplomatic sources called the remarks “disappointing and inaccurate”.
On trade, the sources said Canadian investments in India were likely to decline in absence of a mechanism to protect them and Trudeau and Prime Minister Narendra Modi may deliberate, during their talks on 23 February, on making forward movement in firming up the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the two countries.
Trudeau’s Itinerary Includes Delhi, Agra, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Amritsar
Besides his engagements in Delhi, Trudeau will visit Agra, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Amritsar.
Trudeau, who will be accompanied by his wife and three children, will visit the Taj Mahal on 18 February, and next day he will travel to Ahmedabad where he will visit Sabarmati Ashram. He will visit Akshardham temple in Gandhi Nagar and participate at an event at IIM-Ahmedabad.
On 20 February, he will visit Mumbai where he will hold meetings with top business leaders and meet representatives of Indian Film industry to explore various opportunities in the field of cinema.
On 21 February, the Canadian PM will travel to Amritsar where he will visit the Golden Temple. He will return to Delhi the same day.
Trudeau is scheduled to visit Jama Masjid and a cricket ground here on 22 February besides delivering a lecture at a gathering of Canadian and Indian business leaders.
A number of key ministers in Trudeau’s Cabinet including the defence minister, foreign minister, sports minister and trade minister will be part of his delegation.
After holding wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Modi on 23 February, he is scheduled to address a conference of young change-makers before wrapping up his visit.
Defence, Counter-Terror Co-Operation on the Agenda
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s seven-day visit to India, starting 16 February, is aimed at intensifying defence and counter-terror cooperation besides expanding trade and investment ties.
India Likely to Raise Issue of Growing Sikh Radicalism
India’s concerns over rising Sikh radicalism in Canada are understood to have figured during a meeting between National Security Advisers of the two countries this week, and the issue may figure during Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s talks with Indian leadership.
In response to a question on whether India will take up the issue of rising pro-Khalistan radicalism in Canada during Trudeau’s visit, external affairs ministry indicated that it may be raised.
Canadian diplomatic sources, while talking about the meeting held between the two NSAs in New Delhi a couple of days back to prepare the ground for Trudeau’s visit, indicated that New Delhi’s concerns over Sikh radicalism in Canada figured in the meeting.
“This is an important visit. All issues, which are of interest to us…which are of bilateral interests will be up on the agenda,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, when asked whether the issue will be taken up by India during Trudeau’s visit.
The negotiators of both the countries met last week to overcome the hurdles in finalising the pact, the sources said, adding Canadian investments in India were around USD 15 billion in the last couple of years, and a free trade pact will further encourage investors from that country.
A number of Canadian pension funds are also keen to invest in India.
When referred to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh calling Canadian Defence Minister Sajjan as “Khalistani sympathiser” ahead of his visit here last year, the diplomatic sources called the remarks “disappointing and inaccurate”.
On trade, the sources said Canadian investments in India were likely to decline in absence of a mechanism to protect them and Trudeau and Prime Minister Narendra Modi may deliberate, during their talks on 23 February, on making forward movement in firming up the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the two countries.
Trudeau’s Itinerary Includes Delhi, Agra, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Amritsar
Besides his engagements in Delhi, Trudeau will visit Agra, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Amritsar.
Trudeau, who will be accompanied by his wife and three children, will visit the Taj Mahal on 18 February, and next day he will travel to Ahmedabad where he will visit Sabarmati Ashram. He will visit Akshardham temple in Gandhi Nagar and participate at an event at IIM-Ahmedabad.
On 20 February, he will visit Mumbai where he will hold meetings with top business leaders and meet representatives of Indian Film industry to explore various opportunities in the field of cinema.
On 21 February, the Canadian PM will travel to Amritsar where he will visit the Golden Temple. He will return to Delhi the same day.
Trudeau is scheduled to visit Jama Masjid and a cricket ground here on 22 February besides delivering a lecture at a gathering of Canadian and Indian business leaders.
A number of key ministers in Trudeau’s Cabinet including the defence minister, foreign minister, sports minister and trade minister will be part of his delegation.
After holding wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Modi on 23 February, he is scheduled to address a conference of young change-makers before wrapping up his visit.
Defence, Counter-Terror Co-Operation on the Agenda
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s seven-day visit to India, starting 16 February, is aimed at intensifying defence and counter-terror cooperation besides expanding trade and investment ties.
Wheels up for India and a busy visit, focused on creating good jobs and strengthening the deep connection between the people of our two countries. 🇨🇦🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/Jg6UmL9y4S
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 16, 2018
The sources said the objective of the Canadian prime minister’s visit here would be to expand the overall ties between the two countries with a focus on defence and security, counter-terror cooperation, trade and investment and tackling climate change.
Trudeau and Modi will hold wide-ranging talks on 23 February in Delhi.
Both sides are also expected to deliberate on enhancing cooperation in civil nuclear sector.
Canadian diplomatic source.This will be an opportunity for the PM to promote Canada- India cooperation on a range of issues and highlight Canada’s support for a strong, united, diverse India and to further strengthen the vibrant strategic partnership.
The ties between India and Canada have been on an upswing. Approximately 1.4 million Canadians are of Indian heritage and India is Canada’s second largest source of immigrants.
Canada is also a leading education destination for Indian students, and India is the second largest source of international students, an estimated 1,24,000 in 2017, as per official figures.
(With PTI)
