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India-Canada Joint Statement
during the visit of
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh
27/06/2010
The Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, visited Canada from
June 26 to June 28 at the invitation of the Prime Minister of
Canada, Mr. Stephen Harper. During his visit, Prime Minister Singh
participated in the G-20 Toronto Summit and held bilateral
discussions with Prime Minister Harper.
The two Prime Ministers, in reviewing the state of bilateral
relations, welcomed the enhanced interaction in a broad range of
areas, visits and other exchanges between the two countries. They
expressed their desire to broaden and deepen economic, diplomatic,
educational, scientific and cultural ties between India and Canada.
The two Prime Ministers also solemnly observed the occasion of the
25th anniversary of the bombing of Air India flight 182 “Kanishka”
on June 23, 1985, in which 329 lives were tragically lost. They
strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and
agreed to direct their respective Governments toward greater
cooperation in counter-terrorism and security-related matters.
Reiterating the need for intensifying global cooperation in
combating international terrorism, they called for an early
conclusion and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on
International Terrorism within the UN framework.
Prime Ministers Singh and Harper welcomed the signature of the
Agreement for Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, which
will help facilitate civil nuclear cooperation between the two
countries. They both committed to the ratification of the agreement
and the completion of all remaining steps necessary to ensure its
early implementation. They underscored the potential for mutually
beneficial civil nuclear cooperation and trade.
The two leaders committed to expanding a range of activities and
institutional frameworks that will contribute to the shared goal of
increasing bilateral trade to $15 billion annually in the next five
years. During Prime Minister Harper’s visit to India in November
2009, both countries had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
to establish a Joint Study Group to explore the possibility of a
Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between India and
Canada. The two Prime Ministers welcomed the conclusion of that
report, in which the Joint Study Group identified substantial
potential economic gains that both countries could achieve through
such an agreement. The two Prime Ministers noted that the
recommendations in the report will be examined by both countries and
necessary processes for obtaining approvals will be initiated
immediately and will aim to be completed by the end of October.
The Prime Ministers also announced their commitment to an annual
dialogue on trade and investment between Canada’s Minister of
International Trade and India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry.
They also welcomed the possibility of an India-Canada CEO Roundtable
later this year.
The two Prime Ministers looked forward to the early signing followed
by ratification and implementation of the Social Security Agreement.
They noted that the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection
Agreement was under negotiation and looked forward to its early
conclusion.
These two agreements will make a significant contribution to the
commercial and economic interaction between the two countries.
The Prime Ministers welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of
Understanding on Earth Sciences and Mining and looked forward to
signing a Memorandum of Understanding on Transportation, noting the
scope for bilateral collaboration, trade and investment in the
natural resources and infrastructure sectors.
Agriculture and agri-food cooperation represent another area of
enhanced exchange and both leaders looked forward to the progressive
implementation of projects identified under the January 2009 MOU.
The Prime Ministers recognized some of the greatest strengths in the
relationship lie in the vibrant and longstanding people-to-people
ties. In that regard they encouraged the expansion of linkages in
key areas including education, academic relations, arts, culture,
sports and tourism.
To further enhance the considerable momentum achieved in exchanges
and collaboration amongst a broad range of higher education
institutions in both countries, the Prime Ministers welcomed the
signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Higher Education
Cooperation. This framework will facilitate academic exchanges,
partnerships and mobility between higher educational institutions in
the two countries.
The Prime Ministers also noted initiatives to link Canadian and
Indian universities and colleges, including in curriculum
development and the creation of Chairs and Centres for Indian
studies at a number of Canadian universities, such as, for example,
those in the process of being established at Carleton University and
McGill University.
They also welcomed the initiative to organize the Festival of India
in Canada in 2011, which would present a comprehensive range of
Indian culture through performing arts, exhibitions, film festivals,
food festivals, among others, as well as the upcoming exhibition of
masterworks of Inuit Art from the National Gallery of Canada, which
will be presented at the National Museum in New Delhi in the fall of
2010. They look forward to the Commonwealth Games in India in
October 2010. To facilitate further co-operation in these areas, the
Prime Ministers welcomed the signing of an MOU on Cultural
Cooperation.
To achieve the goals set out in this joint statement, the two
leaders reaffirmed their commitment to sustained political
engagement and a structured exchange of high-level visits and
regular dialogues between their officials. Building on the existing
annual India-Canada Foreign Policy Consultations, Strategic
Dialogues, Trade Policy Consultations, the Joint Working Group on
Counter-Terrorism, the Agriculture Working Group, the Joint Science
and Technology Cooperation Committee, the Environment Forum and the
Energy Forum, they agreed to promote further policy exchanges
between ministries and departments of both Governments.
Ottawa, Ontario
June 27, 2010 |
