'Agreed to build on positive momentum in ties': PM Modi speaks with Canada PM Mark Carney

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said he had spoken with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, with the two leaders agreeing to build on the positive momentum in India-Canada ties and work towards concrete outcomes across key areas of their strategic partnership.In a post on X, PM Modi described the conversation as “warm and productive” and said the two sides would focus on trade, energy, technology, security and people-to-people ties.“Together, India and Canada are contributing towards a more stable and prosperous world,” PM Modi wrote.The conversation comes amid efforts by the two countries to strengthen ties and advance negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which both sides hope to conclude by December.Trade deal and proposed Canada visitIndia and Canada are currently in the fifth round of negotiations for the proposed trade agreement. The two leaders have called for an ambitious and mutually beneficial CEPA that could help increase bilateral trade to 70 billion Canadian dollars (around $49 billion) by 2030.Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had last month said negotiations were making good progress and expressed his willingness to host PM Modi in Canada in December.The proposed visit is tentatively scheduled for December 11-13, according to official sources.The two sides are hoping to conclude trade negotiations by the end of the year.PM Modi's proposed visit would be his first bilateral trip to Canada since relations were strained by a diplomatic row over the killing of a Khalistan separatist. He last visited Canada in June 2025 to attend the G7 Summit at Carney's invitation.Security cooperation also on agendaAlongside trade, New Delhi and Ottawa have been seeking to deepen cooperation on security and defence.During the latest round of bilateral security dialogue, both sides welcomed efforts to advance CEPA negotiations and underlined the potential for a more substantive defence relationship.National security adviser Ajit Doval and his Canadian counterpart, David Morrison, also reviewed progress in security and law enforcement cooperation under a shared Security Work Plan concluded in February.In a joint statement, the two sides said they would explore further practical cooperation, including structured dialogues on cyber security and economic security.They also agreed to strengthen coordination against transnational organised crime, terrorism, violent extremism, human and drug trafficking, cybercrime and extortion, as well as on the extradition of criminal offenders.PM Modi and Carney had previously discussed bilateral relations during meetings in New Delhi in March and on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Évian in June.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.