Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will pay a State visit to India from 17-23 February at the invitation of Prime…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of the G20 Summit at Hamburg, Germany on July 7, 2017. (Photo: IANS/MEA)
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will pay a State visit to India from 17-23 February at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it was officially announced on Monday.
The visit is aimed at 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 be discussed during the visit, the External Affairs Ministry said.
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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.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Canada in April 2015. The last visit of a Canadian Prime Minister to India was in November 2012.
The 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.
Nadir Patel, the High Commissioner for Canada to India, 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.’’
He said Trudeau’s visit would build on trips by as many as 11 Cabinet Ministers of his government to India in the past 18 months.
While in India, Prime Minister Trudeau will engage with youth and visit several landmarks, including the Taj Mahal, the Golden Temple, the Jama Masjid and Swaminarayan Akshardham.
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