EAM S Jaishankar on Monday spoke to his Canadian counterpart Melanie Joly on phone and discussed the possible areas of cooperation between the two countries in the Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of growing global concern over China’s aggressiveness in the region.

The phone conversation came more than two weeks after Canada issued its comprehensive strategy for the Indo-Pacific which is aimed at promoting peace, resilience and security amid challenges arising from China’s aggressive behaviour across the region.

EAM took to Twitter to inform about his telephonic conversation, “Good to talk to Canadian FM @melaniejoly. Spoke about enhancing our bilateral cooperation and promoting people to people ties. Also exchanged views on the Indo-Pacific and how Canada’s new strategy can contribute to our relationship,” he said in a tweet.

Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs tweeted that she and Jaishankar discussed Canada’s “new Indo-Pacific Strategy and how we plan to work together to strengthen our people-to-people ties and advance our shared interests as India chairs the G20 next year”. Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy also mentioned concerns over China’s growing assertive behaviour.

Ties between India and Canada have been hit by several irritants in recent years, including New Delhi’s concerns about the activities of pro-Khalistan activists on Canadian soil. Both sides are currently trying to return their relationship to an even keel.

India is listed as a key player in the region in Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy. The strategy said Canada will focus on expanding economic engagement with India, including through deeper trade and investment ties and cooperation for building resilient supply chains.

“China has benefitted from the rules-based international order to grow and prosper, but it is now actively seeking to reinterpret these rules to gain greater advantage,” it said.

“China’s assertive pursuit of its economic and security interests, advancement of unilateral claims, foreign interference and increasingly coercive treatment of other countries and economies have significant implications in the region, in Canada and around the world,” it noted.

The document further emphasised said that respect for the sovereignty of other states is a cornerstone of the rules-based international order and of governments’ ability to work together to solve shared problems. 

Image source: ANI