NEW DELHI: Papering over the differences and diplomatic gaffes which strained Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s week-long state visit, Canada and India on Friday signed several agreements and released a joint statement calling for “partnership for security and growth”. They also agreed upon a ‘Framework for Cooperation between India and Canada on Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism’, which is significant given that the whole trip was vitiated by the perception that Ottawa was not doing enough to check Khalistani terrorists active on Canadian soil.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted five days after Trudeau and his family arrived in India:
On Friday, Trudeau and his family were welcomed with a bear hug by Modi before the ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan and the subsequent delegation-level talks at Hyderabad House.Before the talks, Trudeau had a “warm, friendly and cordial” meeting with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. The Canadian side was represented by Trudeau, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Navdeep Bains; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chrystia Freeland; Minister of Defence, Harjit Sajjan; Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Amarjeet Sohi; Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, Kirsty Duncan; and Minister of Small Business and Tourism, Bardish Chagger.
Both sides downplayed the diplomatic chill that followed after Trudeau’s wife Sophie was photographed with a pro-Khalistani businessman, whose invitation to an official dinner was withdrawn by the Canadian High Commission. Noting that this was the sixth meeting between the two leaders, Indian officials said there was no friction between them, and the bilateral talks were held in a “frank and cordial atmosphere, where all Indian and Canadian concerns were freely discussed”. The two leaders also interacted with the CEOs of Indian and Canadian companies at the India-Canada CEOs Dialogue.
“This is how mature democracies work, and though we did have some initial hiccups, the talks and the agreements signed, particularly on terror, indicate that the relationship is on track,” said a senior Indian official.
The joint statement said they agreed to work on investing on mutual growth, climate change, oceans, space, clean energy, gender equality and building a more peaceful and secure world.The Trudeaus will leave for Canada on Saturday evening.