Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper formally announced on Friday morning that he would 'welcome' his Indian counterpart 'Dr Manmohan Singh for a bilateral visit on June 27.'
Singh is visiting Toronto to participate in the G20 multilateral Summit, for which he is likely to arrive June 25. The G20 summit is scheduled for June 26-27. When the G20 Summit ends on June 27, Singh will become an official guest of Harper.
That's the time when two leaders will meet for bilateral discussions and expected to ink a number of bilateral agreements.
In a background note that Harper's official has released to rediff.com, it is stated that the 'negotiations on a nuclear cooperation agreement have been completed,' and that the two leaders will finally sign this agreement, and after a few months Canadian companies will start exporting uranium to India.
It is also stated that 'Canada and India launched a Memorandum of Understanding to launch a Joint Study Group to formulate the parameters of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.'
Informed sources said they have finalised this report and an agreement to start negotiations on CEPA would also be signed by the Canadian and Indian leaders in Toronto.
"Canada and India are developing the tremendous potential of our relationship by rapidly expanding commercial, cultural and education ties," said Harper. "I look forward to working with Prime Minister Singh to further capitalise on our shared strengths," he added.
Harper's office said the level of engagement between the two countries 'is deepening and broadening bilateral relations across a wide range of sectors, including science and technology, culture, agriculture and the environment.'
In terms of their multilateral engagement, 'both the countries have co-chaired the G20 Working Group on Enhancing Sound Regulation and Strengthening Transparency and the Working Group on the G20 Framework for Strong, Sustainable and Balanced Growth.'
Canada has about 3,000 members of its defense forces fighting the Taliban largely in the Kandhar Area in Afghanistan.
The official Canadian background note said that 'Canada is committed to stability in South Asia, including in Afghanistan, where India also maintains a large assistance program.'
Harper's office laid emphasis on the fact that 'India's role and responsibility as a major actor on the world stage continues to grow. As host of the G20, Canada is working with India to ensure a durable recovery and to develop growth models that benefit both the countries.'
Merchandise trade between the two countries in 2009 was $4 billion and the foreign direct investment between Canada and India reached $ 3.6 billion last year.
