Ottawa [Canada], June 7 (ANI): Former Member of Parliament of Canada, Chandra Arya, has said it would be his pleasure to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Canada for the G7 meeting from June 15 to 17, noting that India is an 'indispensable partner' and underlining the need for a deeper, structured bilateral relationship based on shared values like 'democracy', 'pluralism', and a 'rules-based international order'.

In a post on X, Arya said, 'It would be my pleasure to welcome PM Narendra Modi to Canada for the G7 meeting during June 15-17. When I met PM Narendra Modi last July, I emphasised that Canada and India are united by shared values, democracy, pluralism, and a rules-based international order. India, an increasingly influential global actor with growing strategic, economic, and demographic weight, is an indispensable partner for Canada, both in the Indo-Pacific region and globally. It is in Canada's national economic, strategic, and geopolitical interest to forge a deeper, more structured relationship with India, one that spans trade, investment, policy, and civil society.'

https://x.com/AryaCanada/status/1931199514104213643

Earlier in the day, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that G7 countries will hold discussions on important issues, including security and energy, in their upcoming summit, adding that India's presence at the intergovernmental political and economic forum is essential. The effort seems a bid to thaw the frozen ties between the nations.

Carney said that India, being the fifth largest economy and the most populous country in the world, must be at the seat.

'Let's put the two aspects in context- first is, we are in the role- Canada's in the role of the G7 chair and in those discussions as agreed with our G7 colleagues, include important discussions on energy, security, on digital future, critical minerals amongst others and partnerships actually in building infrastructure in the emerging and developing world,' he said.

Carney said that India is central to a number of supply chains, which makes its presence pertinent at the G7 chair consultation.

'There are certain countries that should be at the table for those discussions, and in my capacity as G7 chair, I will consult with some others to make those determinations. India is the fifth largest economy in the world, effectively the most populous country in the world, central to a number of those supply chains at the heart of a number of those supply chains, so it makes sense,' he said.

The announcement comes after a period of severely strained relations between the two countries, triggered by Canadian allegations that Indian agents were involved in the June 2023 assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar--a Canadian citizen and prominent pro-Khalistan activist--outside a Sikh temple in Vancouver, as per DW News.

India strongly denied the claims, and both nations expelled senior diplomats in a tit-for-tat escalation, DW News reported. (ANI)