



September 26, 2005 (11:45 a.m. EDT)  No. 171

CANADA ANNOUNCES NEW AREAS OF COOPERATION WITH INDIA

Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today met with Indian External Affairs Minister K.  Natwar Singh. The two discussed relations between Canada and India and agreed on new  areas for cooperation.

“I welcome Foreign Minister Singh’s visit and the occasion to advance the already dynamic  partnership between Canada and India,” said Minister Pettigrew. “India is a global power  and an important partner with whom we are building an intense, broad and enduring  relationship.”

The two ministers reviewed progress in meeting the commitments outlined in the Joint  Declaration agreed to by Prime Ministers Paul Martin and Manmohan Singh during the visit  of Prime Minister Martin to India in January 2005. They noted that advances have been  made in all of the key areas of the Joint Declaration: a science and technology initiative,  environmental cooperation, a partnership for prosperity, people-to-people links between  Canada and India, and foreign policy issues.

The two ministers also discussed important regional and international security issues,  including Afghanistan, South Asia, non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament, and  counterterrorism. They agreed to maintain an ongoing discussion on these issues, including  through the high-level strategic issues dialogue launched earlier this year. They indicated  that Canada and India will continue their counterterrorism collaboration and announced that  the two countries will work toward jointly hosting a workshop on financial remittance  systems and terrorism to be held in 2006. The two ministers also agreed to explore ways to  enhance energy relations between Canada and India.

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Minister Pettigrew welcomed India’s support of international nuclear non-proliferation norms  and noted its interest in international cooperation in civilian nuclear energy. To this end, the  two ministers agreed on the following measures:  Ã¢ÂÂ¢         agreement by India to Canada’s proposal for nuclear safety collaboration and

agreement by both governments to develop a mutually beneficial bilateral framework;  Ã¢ÂÂ¢         support by both governments for scientific and technical contacts on a broader  range of civilian nuclear issues within the public domain; Ã¢ÂÂ¢         agreement by Canada to allow the supply of nuclear-related dual-use items to  Indian civilian nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards,  in accordance with the requirements of the Nuclear Suppliers Group’s dual-use  guidelines; and Ã¢ÂÂ¢         agreement by both governments to pursue further opportunities for the  development of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy both bilaterally and through the  appropriate international forums, consistent with their international commitments.

Both ministers reaffirmed the importance of deepening people-to-people and academic  linkages between the two countries. Minister Pettigrew confirmed Canada’s ongoing  support for the work of the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, which promotes, among other  things, innovative science and technology partnering between Canadian and Indian  member universities.

The two ministers agreed that continued high-level engagement is essential to building the  partnership. In this regard, Minister Pettigrew welcomed Minister Singh’s confirmation that  Indian Prime Minister Singh will visit Canada in 2006.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

SÃÂ©bastien ThÃÂ©berge  Director of Communications  Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs  (613) 995-1851

Media Relations Office  Foreign Affairs Canada  (613) 995-1874

