14 October 2014

The second India-Canada Strategic Dialogue



The second India-Canada Strategic Dialogue

Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird is in India from October 12 to the 15 for the second India-Canada Strategic Dialogue which is scheduled to be held on October 14. The strategic dialogue is to be co-chaired by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Baird.

The two sides are are expected to discuss enhancing cooperation in the areas of security, defence, counter-terrorism, space and nuclear energy.

The meeting is expected to witness the signing of a civil nuclear deal between the two countries. A nuclear deal with Canada would follow closely on the heels of the landmark India-Australia nuclear deal which has allowed Australia to export uranium to India for civilian use.

Besides discussing anti-terrorism and security cooperation, the two sides are also expected to discuss the new economic and developmental initiatives being taken up in India under the new Government and the possibility of Canadian participation in it.

The India-Canada Strategic dialogue mechanism was agreed to during the visit of Prime Minister Stephen Harper to New Delhi in 2012. The first dialogue was held last year in Toronto in September last year.