Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anand is set to arrive in India on Sunday, marking a significant move in the ongoing efforts to reset bilateral relations and establish a framework for deeper strategic cooperation between the two nations.
This will be her first visit to India since Mark Carney assumed office as Prime Minister of Canada, succeeding Justin Trudeau. It also signals the first high-profile visit by a Canadian Foreign Minister following the renewal of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
In Delhi, Anand will engage in high-level talks with India’s Minister of External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal.
Discussions are expected to focus on key areas such as trade diversification, energy transformation, and enhancing security cooperation, according to the official statement.
The minister will also travel to Mumbai, where she will meet with Canadian and Indian businesses that are actively contributing to driving investment, job creation, and economic growth in both nations.
Canada and India share more than 75 years of diplomatic relations, built on a long history of cooperation and strong people-to-people ties. With India projected to become the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2025, Canada is committed to further strengthening its commercial relationships, particularly in agriculture, critical minerals, and energy sectors.
In 2024, India ranked as Canada’s seventh-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching USD 33.9 billion, including Canadian merchandise exports to India amounting to USD 5.3 billion.
In Singapore, Minister Anand will meet with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan, to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and Singapore.
In China, she will meet with Wang Yi, Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs, as Canada and China celebrate 55 years of diplomatic relations.
This meeting will build on commitments made by Prime Minister Carney and Chinese Premier Li Qiang to strengthen communication channels between the two countries.
The agenda will include the Canada-China Strategic Partnership and discussions on both bilateral and global issues critical to the Canadian economy.
Minister Anand emphasized, “For Canada to thrive at home, we need strong, stable partnerships abroad. My focus is on building bridges and enhancing cooperation with India, Singapore, and China. Through Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, I aim to position Canada as a trusted and reliable partner for countries in this dynamic and growing region.”
India strongly rejected the claims as “absurd and motivated”, and in the aftermath, both nations expelled diplomats, suspended visa services, and traded accusations. India accused Canada for harbouring extremists and interfering in internal matters.Meanwhile, Canada provided “no specific information” to support the allegations.
A diplomatic thaw began in June 2025, during the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney, who assumed office in March.