Canadian PM Justin Trudeau with his family after arriving at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. (Express Photo by Amit Mehra)
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in India on a week-long visit. Trudeau and his family arrived at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on February 17, 2018. On the agenda is a meeting with Prime Minister Modi on February 23 where talks related to civil nuclear cooperation, space, defence, energy and education are expected to take place.
The visit is aimed at further strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries in key areas of mutual interest trade and investment, a statement from External Affairs Ministry said. Cooperation in security and counter-terrorism, as well as the exchange of views on global and regional issues of mutual interest, will also form important components of the visit, it read.
Trudeau is also scheduled to meet top business leaders in Mumbai and visit key monuments, including the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, Golden Temple in Amritsar and the Jama Masjid in New Delhi. Officials said Trudeau’s visit to Gujarat will be the first by a Canadian prime minister. He will also interact representatives of the film industry and participate in an event at IIM-Ahmedabad.
“Wheels up for India and a busy visit focused on creating good jobs and strengthening the deep connection between the people of our two countries,” Trudeau had tweeted on Friday before embarking on the trip.
Justin Trudeau in India LIVE UPDATES:
Trudeau’s day-long programme in Mumbai includes meetings with several business leaders and a women business leaders’ roundtable, followed by an armchair discussion at the Canada-India Business Forum
"Canada & Gujarat already have strong connections in business, innovation and friendship. And we’re working to make them even stronger. Thanks to @vijayrupanibjp, Chief Minister of Gujarat, for hosting us so generously today," the Canada PM wrote on Twitter after meeting Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani on Monday
Chief minister Rupani invited the Canadian PM to the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, 2019, with his country's delegation, as Canada is the partner country of the mega biennial event, the statement said.
Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau wound up his one-day visit to Gujarat with a meeting with Chief Minister Vijay Rupani at the city airport before his departure today evening. The two leaders discussed various aspects of Gujarat-Canada relationship, said an official release.
Ending the uncertainty over his meeting with Justin Trudeau, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday said he is looking forward to meeting the Canadian Prime Minister when he arrives in Amritsar.
On the immigration system in Canada, Trudeau said, "More countries need to do more to welcome immigrants not because that is the right thing to do, because refugees who flee the persecution in their country for a better life in another, are extremely grateful to the country that welcomes them."
Trudeau said while he finds the media frustrating at times, it is essential to empower and support it. "The media fulfils an important duty of telling the government what it's doing wrong. An independent media is essential for a successful democracy," he said.
Trudeau said Canada is open to immigration and trade. "India-Canada trade has the potential to grow," he said.
"If you think that men and women should get equal opportunities, you are a feminist, it is that simple," the Canadian PM said.
"Citizens are not fools. They can tell whether someone is genuine in their approach or just trying to live up to some lofty familial expectation," says Canadian PM Trudeau at IIM Ahmedabad.
Dressed in traditional Indian attire the Trudeau family visited the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. See photos here
The family also paid a visit to Gandhinagar's Akshardham Temple
This is Justin Trudeau's first state visit to India. (AP)
See all the pictures from Trudeau's visit to Taj Mahal.
The Canada PM on Sunday visited the Taj Mahal along with his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, and kids Xavier, Ella-Grace, and Hadrien. “For me to be able to be here on an official trip while bringing my kids with me to share this is really special and being able to enjoy this as a dad with my kids is really nice,” Justin Trudeau said on his Taj Mahal visit.
The two-way trade between India and Canada is just over $8 billion and Trudeau’s administration seemingly wants to increase that number, especially in the light of changing trade environment across the Atlantic and with US and China.
Follow our blog for the latest updates on the events the Canadian PM will be attending, as well as his visits to historical places such as the Taj Mahal, Jama Masjid, Sabarmati Ashram and the Golden Temple.