Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau arrived on Saturday on an eight-day visit at the invitation of his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi.
"Strategic partnership underpinned by shared values of democracy and pluralism! Namaste to the Right Honorable @JustinTrudeau, Prime Minister of Canada as he arrives on the state visit to India from 17-24 February, 2018," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.
Canada's PM Justin Trudeau with his son feeds an elephant during a tour of the elephant sanctuary in Mathura. PTI
On Sunday, Trudeau started his visit to India with a tour of the iconic Taj Mahal, which he had first seen 35 years ago. Trudeau was accompanied by wife and three kids during the tour of white marble mausoleum on the banks of Ganga river.
"I was about Xav's age when I first visited the Taj Mahal almost 35 years ago... and it's amazing to be back with him & the family on Day 1 of our trip to India," he tweeted.
The Canadian first family was visibly thrilled during the visit and posed for a picture seated on the iconic bench with the monument in the backdrop.
The visit is aimed at further strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries in key areas of mutual interest trade and investment, energy, science and innovation, higher education, infrastructure development, skill development and space, a ministry statement said. Cooperation in security and counter-terrorism as well as exchange of views on global and regional issues of mutual interest will also form important components of the visit.
Canada is also home to around 1.4 million people of Indian origin.
Modi will hold bilateral talks with Trudeau on February 23 following which a number of agreements are expected to be signed. The trip comes nearly three years after Modi visited Canada in April 2015. The last visit of a Canadian Prime Minister to India was in November 2012.
During the course of his stay in India, Trudeau will also visit Agra, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Amritsar.
Published Date: Feb 19, 2018 11:59 AM | Updated Date: Feb 19, 2018 12:41 PM
Highlights
Schedule for Justin Trudeau's visit to Gujarat on Monday
0830 hrs: Emplane for Ahmedabad
1005 hrs: Arrival in Ahmedabad. Will attend a programme in the city
1710 hrs: Emplane for Mumbai
1830 hrs: Arrive Mumbai
Justin Trudeau's India visit could bolster ties, but Canadian PM's courting of Khalistani elements is causing bitterness
What has caused concern, even annoyance in New Delhi is the Canadian prime minister and his party’s hobnobbing with some who are seen as Khalistani elements. For instance, New Delhi’s hackles were raised in April last year after the Ontario legislature passed a private member’s bill — it was moved by Harinder Malhi and she belongs to Trudeau’s party — that described the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as a "genocide".
Click here to read more
Narendra Modi will not meet Trudeau today
NDTV reported that Narendra Modi is not in Gujarat today and will not meet the Canadian PM today.
More visuals of the Trudeau family at the Sabarmati Ashram
Justin Trudeau and his family at the Sabarmati Ashram
Justin Trudeau arrives in Gujarat
12:41 (IST)
Schedule for Justin Trudeau's visit to Gujarat on Monday
0830 hrs: Emplane for Ahmedabad
1005 hrs: Arrival in Ahmedabad. Will attend a programme in the city
1710 hrs: Emplane for Mumbai
1830 hrs: Arrive Mumbai
12:25 (IST)
Is Justin Trudeau getting snubbed on his India visit?
As has become the norm now, Narendra Modi usually breaks protocol to go to the airport to receive important heads of government. He did it last month for his good friend Benjamin ‘Bibi’ Netanyahu, according to News18. He famously did it when Barack Obama came to India as chief guest for Republic Day in 2015.
No such welcome was given to Trudeau who is accompanied by his wife Sophie and their three children. The receiving minister was MoS Agriculture Ganjendra Singh, not even External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj or her two deputies Gen VK Singh or MJ Akbar. Modi and Swaraj did not even tweet any welcome message for the Canadian premier.
12:16 (IST)
Justin Trudeau along with his family at Akshardham Temple in Gandhinagar
12:13 (IST)
Justin Trudeau's India visit could bolster ties, but Canadian PM's courting of Khalistani elements is causing bitterness
What has caused concern, even annoyance in New Delhi is the Canadian prime minister and his party’s hobnobbing with some who are seen as Khalistani elements. For instance, New Delhi’s hackles were raised in April last year after the Ontario legislature passed a private member’s bill — it was moved by Harinder Malhi and she belongs to Trudeau’s party — that described the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as a "genocide".
Click here to read more
12:10 (IST)
Narendra Modi will not meet Trudeau today
NDTV reported that Narendra Modi is not in Gujarat today and will not meet the Canadian PM today.
11:55 (IST)
More visuals of the Trudeau family at the Sabarmati Ashram
11:53 (IST)
Justin Trudeau and his family at the Sabarmati Ashram
11:52 (IST)
Justin Trudeau arrives in Gujarat