The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today received Mr. John Baird, Foreign Minister of Canada and Mr Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade of Canada. Mr John Baird is on a visit to India for the 2nd round of Strategic Dialogue between the two countries which is co-chaired by the External Affairs Minister of India. The Prime Minister welcomed close cooperation between India and Canada and expressed satisfaction at comprehensive nature of bilateral ties, including in areas of economic cooperation, agriculture, security, civil nuclear energy, education, and science and technology. The Prime Minister called for strengthening bilateral engagement in the areas of trade and investment, energy, healthcare, infrastructure development and people-to-people contacts. Mr Baird conveyed the commitment of the Government of Canada under Prime Minister Harper to further strengthen the Strategic Partnership with India and extended an invitation to the Prime Minister to visit Canada. Mr Ed Fast also sought earlier conclusion of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement between the two countries. The Prime Minister thanked Mr Baird for Prime Minister Harper's invitation and said that he looked forward to visiting Canada at mutually convenient date. The Prime Minister also said that he looked forward to meeting Prime Minister Harper at the G-20 Summit in Brisbane, Australia, in November 2014.
