Post by : Rameen Ariff

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand is set to visit India, Singapore, and China from October 12 to 17, as part of her diplomatic mission to boost cooperation and strengthen bilateral relations under Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy.

According to the Canadian government, this visit aims to deepen collaboration on key global issues, including trade diversification, clean energy transformation, and regional security.

Anand’s visit to India, beginning October 13, will mark an important step in restoring and enhancing the relationship between the two countries. During her stay in New Delhi, she will hold meetings with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal. The discussions are expected to focus on developing a strategic cooperation framework that can expand trade opportunities, enhance energy collaboration, and strengthen economic and security ties.

In addition to meetings in the capital, the Canadian Foreign Minister will travel to Mumbai, where she will meet Indian and Canadian business leaders to discuss investment opportunities, job creation, and the promotion of trade and innovation between the two nations.

This high-level diplomatic engagement comes just months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta. The meeting between the two leaders was described as “positive and constructive” and marked a turning point in efforts to repair relations that had experienced strain in recent years.

Following that meeting, both nations took concrete steps to rebuild trust, including the appointment of new High Commissioners — Christopher Cooter as Canada’s envoy to India and Dinesh K. Patnaik as India’s representative to Ottawa.

Last month, India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval also met with his Canadian counterpart Nathalie G. Drouin. The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in counterterrorism, intelligence sharing, and combating transnational organized crime. According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), both sides recognized the momentum toward rebuilding trust and agreed to work together for a stable and cooperative future.

After concluding her India visit, Anand will head to Singapore to meet Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. This year marks 60 years of diplomatic relations between Canada and Singapore, and both sides are expected to discuss progress on the proposed Canada-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement, with an aim to finalize negotiations by 2026.

In the final leg of her trip, Anand will travel to China, where she is scheduled to meet Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The visit will commemorate 55 years of diplomatic ties between Canada and China and continue discussions on the Canada-China Strategic Partnership. Both sides will exchange views on the evolving global environment, trade relations, and ways to maintain open communication channels between the two governments.

The meeting follows a previous commitment made by Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese Premier Li Qiang to strengthen dialogue between their countries. Canada sees this engagement as part of its broader effort to maintain balanced and constructive relations with key players in the Indo-Pacific region.

Anita Anand’s multi-nation visit is being seen as a significant diplomatic effort by Canada to reaffirm its position in Asia and strengthen partnerships that contribute to regional stability and economic growth.

#world news #Global News