The sourness and stagnation that had come in the relations between India and Canada in the last few years in the diplomatic corridors of South Asia and North America now seems to be melting. Canada's High Commissioner and top diplomat to India has given a very important and clear statement regarding the future of bilateral relations. He bluntly said that the current phase of Canada's relations with India is not just a superficial 'reset' or diplomatic posturing, but a deep process of redefining the mutual trust, strategic priorities and long-term partnerships between the two countries. Along with this, he has also given big hints regarding the possible upcoming visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the pending Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries. Moving beyond diplomatic bitterness towards practical cooperation, the kind of deadlock seen in political forums between the two countries in the past had worried the business houses, students and diaspora the most. But the political maturity shown by both sides in recent months has proved that despite differences, economic and strategic imperatives come first. The Canadian Ambassador emphasized in his interview that India has today emerged as a superpower on the global stage, ignoring which no country in the world can imagine its long-term economic progress. The positive results of the continuous talks going on behind the scenes between the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs are now visible on the ground. The Ambassador clarified that both the countries are now leaving behind the bitterness of the past and working on a future-oriented agenda. Both countries have immense opportunities for joint progress in the fields of defence, space cooperation, higher education, agricultural technology and green energy. The world's eyes are on trade deals and economic partnerships. The long stalled discussions on 'Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement' (CEPA) and Free Trade Deal (FTA) between India and Canada have once again come alive. The Canadian Ambassador acknowledged that the business community is eagerly awaiting smooth and duty-free market access between the two countries. Canada has abundant mineral resources, potash, energy and advanced agricultural technology, which are badly needed by India's rapidly growing economy. On the other hand, India's huge market, skilled technology professionals, IT sector and manufacturing capabilities open the biggest doors of profits for Canadian businesses. If the high-level meetings between the trade ministers of the two countries are successful in the coming days, then the technical obstacles coming in the way of this trade deal will be removed. Analysts believe that a strong trade agreement will not only boost the gross domestic product (GDP) of both countries but also provide stability to the global supply chain. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit and outline of diplomatic future Amidst this diplomatic heat, the biggest question remains regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Canada and the upcoming meetings between the top leadership of the two countries. Although the Ambassador did not officially announce any specific date for the Prime Minister's possible visit, he did indicate that a favorable environment is being created for it at the diplomatic level. If the leaders of both the countries visit each other's countries bilaterally or on the sidelines of the G-20 or other international multilateral fora, it will prove to be the strongest foundation for the new chapter of India-Canada relations. The Indian diaspora, which plays an influential role in Canada's economy and politics, has also been a strong supporter of warm relations between the two countries. The relationship between India and Canada is not just limited to bilateral trade between the two countries, but is also extremely important in terms of democratic values, maritime security and the common fight against terrorism in the Indo-Pacific region. This statement of the Canadian Ambassador is a strong proof that the doors of dialogue in diplomacy should never be closed. As both the countries move forward breaking through the clouds of mutual distrust, it has become clear that future cooperation will rest on the strong pillars of mutual respect, sovereignty and shared economic prosperity.
