New Delhi, March 2 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked on Monday that the bond between India and Canada has achieved a new level of vigor, mutual trust, and optimism since his initial encounter with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney last year.

"India is thrilled to host Prime Minister Carney during his inaugural visit to our country. This represents a significant milestone in the India-Canada partnership. PM Carney's achievements, both prior to and during his premiership, are remarkably motivating. I can confidently assert that our initial meeting has infused the India-Canada friendship with renewed energy, trust, and positivity. Our discussions today centered on further fortifying this relationship for the mutual benefit of our citizens," PM Modi shared on X following bilateral talks with Carney in New Delhi on Monday.

The Canadian Prime Minister's visit from February 27 to March 2 marked his first journey to India since assuming office and was the first bilateral visit by a Canadian Prime Minister to India since 2018, during which he participated in the India-Canada CEOs Forum.

Accompanying Carney was a high-ranking Canadian delegation that included senior ministers, provincial leaders, and prominent CEOs.

"PM Carney and I concurred on the necessity to further deepen our economic connections. Our target is to elevate bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030. The involvement of Canadian pension funds in India signifies profound confidence in India's growth narrative. We also explored expanding collaborations in technology, innovation, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, renewable energy, agriculture, and beyond. Additionally, we discussed enhancing our people-to-people connections, with vast potential for collaboration in education and cultural exchanges," stated PM Modi.

As per the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), commemorating 79 years of diplomatic relations, the two leaders reaffirmed the significance of the Canada–India relationship, which is rooted in shared democratic principles, strong people-to-people connections, respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and a collective commitment to the rule of law.

"The Leaders recognized that, in a world characterized by growing complexity and uncertainty, a robust, resilient, and future-oriented partnership between two dynamic democracies significantly contributes to mutual prosperity and to advancing common global objectives. They emphasized that closer collaboration between India and Canada will help reinforce international standards and norms applied equitably, enhance economic resilience, promote sustainable development, and tackle global challenges such as climate change, rapid technological advancements, and public health," stated the India-Canada Joint Leaders' Statement.

PM Modi and Carney also welcomed a new Maritime Security Partnership encompassing Defence Material Cooperation, Supply Chain Resilience, and Training and Exercises.

The Leaders acknowledged the importance of expanding practical military collaboration and welcomed opportunities to enhance defense relations through cooperative initiatives, joint training opportunities, and professional military exchanges. Both nations agreed to formalize an India–Canada Defence Dialogue to exchange insights on respective defense strategies, regional and global security issues, and strategic perspectives to identify prospects for greater defense collaboration. In this context, they welcomed Canada’s appointment of a Defence Attaché to India and India’s concurrent accreditation of its Defence Attaché in Washington D.C. to Canada as key steps towards reinforcing institutional ties," the Joint Statement concluded.