OTTAWA — Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand will travel to India and China in mid-October, where she will take two distinct approaches to strengthen Canada’s diplomatic and economic ties with the world’s two most populous nations.
Speaking after the UN General Assembly’s high-level week in New York, Anand emphasized that each relationship requires a tailored strategy. “I do not think it is wise to group countries in one region of the world together, and certainly not those two countries. Our relationship with each of these countries is separate and we are approaching them very differently,” she said.
Relations between Canada and India are gradually warming after a period of strain. Anand recently met with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar following the restoration of both countries’ top envoys. The minister underscored that Canada’s step-by-step approach ensures public safety remains paramount, with law enforcement dialogue forming a critical part of renewed engagement. Over the past month, senior Canadian and Indian officials, including Canada’s National Security Adviser Nathalie Drouin, have met to rebuild trust and advance trade while addressing concerns about transnational repression and foreign interference.
The thaw follows tensions stemming from allegations of Indian involvement in the 2023 assassination of a Sikh activist in Vancouver and subsequent RCMP findings in 2024 linking violence to senior levels of the Indian government. Both sides expelled diplomats at the time, but recent dialogue and Prime Minister Mark Carney’s invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the G7 summit in Alberta have helped reset relations.
In China, Anand will pursue a policy of “co-operate where we can, challenge where we must.” She expects discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to focus on defence, security, trade, and climate change. This builds on a July meeting where both sides exchanged views on geopolitics and economic cooperation.
“China remains a complex partner. Our approach is to co-operate where we can, but challenge them where we must,” Anand said. Prime Minister Carney has reiterated that China poses the “biggest security threat to Canada,” but has also sought to deepen collaboration in areas like energy, climate, and manufacturing while maintaining national security safeguards.
Recent signs of progress include China easing travel restrictions for Canadians and Carney’s meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the UN. China’s ambassador to Canada, Wang Di, recently stated that relations are “on the right path” and pledged to focus on shared development goals.
Canada’s renewed engagement with both India and China comes amid a volatile global environment where protectionism is rising. “In this era where countries are standing up for their own sovereign interests, there are points of commonality. There are ways to co-operate, and there is every reason to continue to support multilateral institutions,” Anand noted.
Through these visits, Canada seeks to advance economic resilience, reinforce national security interests, and explore opportunities for cooperation on shared priorities while navigating longstanding challenges.