Modi receives Canadian PM ahead of talks

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday received his Canadian counterpart Jutin Trudeau ahead of their bilateral summit here.

"New momentum in the relationship! PM @narendramodi received Canadian PM @JustinTrudeau at the Hyderabad House ahead of the bilateral talks," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted along with a picture of the two leaders shaking hands at Hyderabad House.

Following the summit, the two sides are expected to sign a number of agreements across multiple sectors.

Earlier on Friday, Trudeau was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan where Modi greeted him with a hug putting to rest speculations about the government cold-shouldering the visiting dignitary ever since his arrival in India on Saturday on an eight-day visit.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also called on the visiting dignitary during the course of which the two leaders "discussed ways to strengthen and deepen our partnership", according to Kumar.

The visit by Trudeau, who assumed office in November 2015, comes after Modi's visit to Canada in April earlier that year.

Since arriving in India, Trudeau, his wife and three children have visited Agra, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Amritsar.

--IANS

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