India and Canada seek to raise relationship to a higher level, Jaishankar says

India and Canada are preparing to take their relationship “to a higher level”, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said after meeting Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Mr.

Jaishankar described the discussion as productive in a post on X on September 26. The meeting took place during the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. His comments came after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said earlier in the week that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was expected to visit Canada around December.

Mr. Carney also said Ottawa was making good progress in trade negotiations with India. The proposed trade agreement is referred to as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

Mr. Carney described India as an important relationship for Canada in people-to-people ties, security, trade and the wider economy. The source material does not provide a date for the conclusion of the negotiations or details of the issues still under discussion.

It also does not confirm the date of any visit by Mr. Modi. During his meetings on the UNGA sidelines, Mr.

Jaishankar also met Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Felix Plasencia Gonzalez. He said India’s energy ties with Venezuela were gaining momentum and that the two sides discussed other bilateral cooperation and current regional issues. Mr.

Jaishankar also held meetings with Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov and Mexican counterpart Roberto Velasco Alvarez. The meetings took place amid India’s discussions about diversifying its energy sources and its wider diplomatic engagement at the UN.