India, Canada plan talks to improve ties

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 24

Despite the recent acrimony that was interspersed by India supplying vaccines to Canada, the two sides held Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) on Wednesday in the virtual mode. 

Riva Ganguly Das, Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs and Marta Morgan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs at Global Affairs Canada, co-chaired the consultations.

Both sides undertook a comprehensive review of ongoing bilateral cooperation under the framework of the India-Canada Strategic Partnership and welcomed forthcoming bilateral dialogues and meetings of various Working Groups which will enable both countries to give a fresh impetus to bilateral cooperation, said a MEA news release.

The co-chairs took stock of bilateral trade and investment, cooperation in energy, science and technology, education, counter-terrorism as well as consular matters. Both sides agreed to take steps to enhance the depth and momentum of engagement, which would be to mutual benefit. 

Both sides noted their cooperation on Covid related issues, including repatriation of their respective nationals, supply of medicines and supply of five lakh doses of India-made vaccines to Canada.