Canada PM Trudeau to travel to India next month

New Delhi, Jan 22 (VNI) The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, will be visiting India next month on a state visit.

According to  official announcement made  by both countries he will travel to India  at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi  for a state visit from February 17 to 23.The last visit of a Canadian Prime Minister to India was in November 2012. It may be mentioned that PM  Modi had also paid a bilateral visit to Canada in April 2015. 

While announcing the visit MEA said that his visit is aimed at further strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries in key areas of mutual interest including trade and investment, energy, science and innovation, higher education, infrastructure development, skill development and space. Cooperation in security and counter-terrorism as well as exchange of views on global and regional issues of mutual interest will also form important components of the visit ,MEA said in a statement.

It further said that India and Canada share a strategic partnership underpinned by the values of democracy, pluralism, equality for all and rule of law. Strong people-to-people contacts and the presence of a large Indian Diaspora in Canada provide a strong foundation for the relationship.

According to  a release issued by Canada High Commission both countries enjoy a flourishing relationship, one that Canada is committed to further strengthening. Our two countries share much in common, including an commitment to diversity, democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. This visit will build on these shared commitments as well as on recent meetings held between Prime Ministers Trudeau and Modi, and ministers from both countries.

While announcing his visit PM Trudeau said“Canada and India share a special bond, and are linked by tremendous people-to-people connections. The more than one million Canadians of Indian origin make the relationship between our two countries a truly special one. I look forward to meeting with Prime Minister Modi, and further strengthening the Canada-India friendship.”

This visit, which includes stops in Agra, Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi  will provide an opportunity for Prime Minister Trudeau to connect with Indian leaders in government and business, promote the empowerment of women and girls, and strengthen Canada and India’s close economic ties.

The High Commissioner for Canada to India Nadir Patel said: “Canada greatly values its strong relationship with India.  This visit reflects the high level of priority that Prime Minister Trudeau places on this strategic partnership. Prime Minister Trudeau’s visit builds on visits by 11 Cabinet Ministers of the Trudeau Government in the past 18 months.”

During the visit, the Prime Ministers will reaffirm the close friendship between the two countries, and discuss ways to further deepen bilateral cooperation. Prime Minister Trudeau will also participate in several business roundtables to promote further trade and investment between Canada and India, as Canada works closely with Indian leaders to advance economic opportunities in both countries. While in India, Prime Minister Trudeau will engage with youth, and visit several landmarks, including the Taj Mahal, Sri Harmandir Sahib (also known as the Golden Temple), the Jama Masjid, and Swaminarayan Akshardham.