NEW DELHI / OTTAWA (Rajeev Sharma)— Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral discussions focused on accelerating diplomatic and economic ties, reaffirming their shared ambition to finalize a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) as swiftly as possible.
The leaders reviewed expanding cooperation across finance, artificial intelligence, defense, and cultural exchange over the past year. Aiming to double two-way merchandise and services trade by 2030, the talks coincided with high-level Canadian diplomatic outreach in India, including a Team Canada Trade Mission led by International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu and an official visit to New Delhi by Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand to advance joint priorities in clean energy, commerce, and civic partnerships.
Regional security and global supply chains also featured prominently in the dialogue. Addressing geopolitical turbulence across the Indo-Pacific, both prime ministers emphasized the necessity of trusted partnerships in food production and energy security. Prime Minister Carney also commended Prime Minister Modi for his diplomatic engagement in pursuing a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
The conversation built upon recent National Security Advisor-level dialogues held in India, which reviewed bilateral law enforcement and defense cooperation. Carney and Modi agreed to maintain close coordination leading up to the Indian prime minister’s scheduled visit to Canada this December.
