PM Modi, PM Harper to encourage visits by parliamentary delegations

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper have agreed to encourage visits by parliamentary delegations of both nations, recognising the role of people-to-people ties in the relationship between New Delhi and Ottawa.

In the joint statement released by the two leaders, Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Harper appreciated the growing community of more than one million Canadians of Indian origin and their contributions to both societies. The two leaders emphasised the need to further invigorate bilateral people-to-people contacts and welcomed progress towards the renewal of an MoU on Cultural Cooperation between Canada and India, and Canada's proposal to hold the Year of Canada in India in 2017.

The two leaders stated that they look forward to the entry into force of the Canada-India Social Security Agreement on August 1 and highlighted the important role of increasing connectivity to grow commercial and people-to-people links, welcoming the resumption of non-stop air links between Canada and India, commencing November this year.

Prime Minister Modi also thanked Prime Minister Harper for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation and invited him and his wife Laureen to visit India again, an invitation which was accepted with gratitude.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister met Canadian Governor General David Johnston, before holding a tete-a-tete with Prime Minister Harper.

He also attended a ceremonial reception before being accorded a guard of honour.

Addressing the press, Prime Minister Modi later said that the agreement between the two countries on the procurement of uranium from Canada for India's civilian nuclear power plants launches a new era of bilateral cooperation.

Prime Minister Modi's trip to Canada is the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 42 years.

Prime Minister Modi arrived here after concluding a successful visit to France and Germany.