EAM’s Opening Remarks during meeting with FM Anita Anand of Canada (October 13, 2025)

Foreign Minister, a very good afternoon to you and to your delegation.

I am pleased to welcome you to India on your first official visit as Canada's new Foreign Minister. Our meeting today continues the constructive conversations that we have been having since our telephone call on the 26th of May.

India-Canada bilateral relations have been steadily progressing in the last few months. We are working to restore and reinvigorate the mechanisms necessary to advance our partnership. As Prime Minister Modi noted during his meeting with Prime Minister Carney in Kananaskis, India's approach is to move forward with a positive mindset.

This morning you have met the Prime Minister, you have heard from him personally about our vision of cooperation and how best to realise it. I should also take note of the fact that our National Security Advisers and their teams had a productive meeting on the 18th of September in New Delhi - which was an important first step towards enhancing our security cooperation. Our Foreign Ministries, at the level of Secretary and Deputy Minister, also met on the 19th of September to review the overall relationship. Our Trade Ministers spoke very recently, actually on the 11th of October. So, when we look at Canada, we see a complementary economy, we see another open society, we see diversity and pluralism, and we believe that that is the basis for a close, sustainable and long-term cooperative framework.

Minister, let me also say that both sides for our meeting today have prepared an ambitious roadmap to advance our cooperation in various domains, including trade, investment, agriculture, science and technology, civil nuclear collaboration, AI, critical minerals, and energy. I am glad that the two High Commissioners have assumed their responsibilities in our respective capitals and are part of today's meeting. This is our High Commissioner with whom you have spoken.

Our responsibility as Foreign Ministers is to shepherd the process of rebuilding our cooperation and to ensure that it delivers on the expectation of our Prime Ministers and the interests of our people. It means not only taking initiatives in our particular jurisdiction but to monitor and integrate interactions across the entire breadth of the Government. I look forward to doing so, working closely with you.

Minister, India and Canada have a long tradition of being active in world affairs. We are members of the G20 and the Commonwealth. Our convergences in the Indo-Pacific are notable. We are strong proponents of effective multilateralism, climate action and SDG Agenda 2030. We seek to de-risk the international economy today by forging strong partnerships of growing range and depth. Your visit, Ms. Anand, affords an opportunity to review the global scenario and exchange perspectives.

I would now request you to deliver your opening remarks.

New Delhi
October 13, 2025