Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand on Wednesday described India as a “valuable partner” amid geopolitical uncertainty as she met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to strengthen cooperation in trade, energy and security.

Anand arrived in New Delhi after India and Canada concluded the fifth round of negotiations on a proposed comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA). Both sides aim to finalise the trade deal before Modi visits Canada in December.

Modi said he had a productive discussion with Anand on trade, technology, security, energy, education and people-to-people exchanges.

“India is committed to building a constructive and forward-looking strategic partnership with Canada that delivers tangible benefits to the people of both countries,” Modi said on social media.

During their separate meeting, Jaishankar and Anand reviewed cooperation in trade, investment, education, energy, defence, security and people-to-people exchanges. They also discussed regional and global developments, including the conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia, and ways to advance their joint roadmap for bilateral relations.

“Guided by our leadership and sustained engagement across government and industry, we are advancing our strategic partnership,” Jaishankar said.

According to a Canadian readout, Anand “highlighted the importance that Canada places on India as a valuable partner, particularly at a time of geopolitical uncertainty”.

Anand also said Canada looked forward to welcoming Modi in December, marking the first official confirmation of his planned visit. Modi is expected to combine the trip with visits to Belgium for the signing of the India-European Union free trade agreement and to the US for the G20 Summit.

“Canada and India have enormous potential to shape a more prosperous future together,” Anand said after meeting Modi.

“From Prime Minister [Mark] Carney’s visit earlier this year to the Team Canada Trade Mission underway, our renewed engagement reflects a growing ambition to turn shared priorities into lasting opportunities for both nations,” she added.

Anand said the two countries had made considerable progress since finalising their joint roadmap a year ago, particularly in trade negotiations and cooperation in energy, innovation and security.

“At a time when the international order is undergoing profound change, closer engagement between Canada and India offers an opportunity to shape our future prosperity and contribute to a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” she said.

The Canadian readout said both ministers welcomed a recent bilateral security dialogue between the two countries' national security advisers in New Delhi. Senior officials reviewed progress in security and law enforcement cooperation. Both sides also remained “committed to sustained engagement on security issues of mutual interest”.

India's external affairs ministry said the ministers held a “detailed exchange of views on enhancing security and defence cooperation, as well as expanding energy cooperation”.

Bilateral relations deteriorated sharply in 2023 after former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian government agents of involvement in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India rejected the allegation as absurd, and both countries imposed diplomatic and other measures against each other.

Relations have improved since Carney's election last year. His call for “middle powers” to work together to protect multilateralism amid uncertainty over US President Donald Trump's policies has also supported the diplomatic reset.