Canada has termed India a "critical partner" under its Indo-Pacific strategy that was released on Sunday. It is for the first time ever the north American country has released such a policy for the Indo-Pacific region that continues to drive the global economy. The policy document said that "India’s strategic importance and leadership—both across the region and globally—will only increase" as India "the world’s biggest democracy—becomes the most populous country in the world and continues to grow its economy."&nbsp;

Number of steps have been listed to increase engagement with India, which include bolstering Canada’s visa-processing capacity in New Delhi and Chandigarh, support for "academic, educational, cultural, youth and research" exchanges and accelerate cooperation in the fight against climate change.

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Special emphasis has been put on increasing economic ties especially by concluding an Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA) and creation of a Canada-India desk within the Trade Commissioner Service to promote implementation of the EPTA. The document also hopes for an India Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement as a natural outcome of EPTA.&nbsp;

According to Indian govt estimates, India’s total trade with Canada (goods and services) in 2021-22 was US$11.68. Bilateral trade in services in 2021 was US$ 4.88 billion. Canadian&nbsp;Pension Funds have cumulatively invested around US$ 55 billion in India.

The strategy highlighted that both the countries "have a shared tradition of democracy and pluralism, a common commitment to a rules-based international system and multilateralism" even as both sides have "mutual interest in expanding our commercial relationship and extensive and growing people-to-people connections."

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While Khalistani elements in Canadian society and their activities like holding referendums for creation of separate homeland in India has irked New Delhi, government to government efforts remain on to keep ties better placed. Earlier this year both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian PM&nbsp;Justin Trudeau met on the sidelines of G7 summit in the Germany, the first such meet between the 2 leaders since 2018.&nbsp;

The strategy also called for greater engagement with India for resilient supply chain and expects a "greater Canadian involvement and alignment with regional initiatives, such as the Australia-Japan-India Supply Chain Resilience Initiative".&nbsp;More and more countries are issuing Indo-Pacific strategy given the region has one of the fastest growing economies in the world, and a hub of global trade. The region is expected to contribute to 50% of global GDP by 2040 and 65% of global population.

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Canada has termed India a "critical partner" under its Indo-Pacific strategy that was released on Sunday. It is for the first time ever the north American country has released such a policy for the Indo-Pacific region that continues to drive the global economy.

Canada has termed India a "critical partner" under its Indo-Pacific strategy that was released on Sunday. It is for the first time ever the north American country has released such a policy for the Indo-Pacific region that continues to drive the global economy. The policy document said that "India’s strategic importance and leadership—both across the region and globally—will only increase" as India "the world’s biggest democracy—becomes the most populous country in the world and continues to grow its economy." Number of steps have been listed to increase engagement with India, which include bolstering Canada’s visa-processing capacity in New Delhi and Chandigarh, support for "academic, educational, cultural, youth and research" exchanges and accelerate cooperation in the fight against climate change. Also read | WHO to use new preferred term ‘mpox’ for ‘Monkeypox’ virus to avoid stigma Special emphasis has been put on increasing economic ties especially by concluding an Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA) and creation of a Canada-India desk within the Trade Commissioner Service to promote implementation of the EPTA. The document also hopes for an India Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement as a natural outcome of EPTA. According to Indian govt estimates, India’s total trade with Canada (goods and services) in 2021-22 was US$11.68. Bilateral trade in services in 2021 was US$ 4.88 billion. Canadian Pension Funds have cumulatively invested around US$ 55 billion in India. The strategy highlighted that both the countries "have a shared tradition of democracy and pluralism, a common commitment to a rules-based international system and multilateralism" even as both sides have "mutual interest in expanding our commercial relationship and extensive and growing people-to-people connections." Also read | 8 civilians killed in latest Al-Shabaab attack on Mogadishu, hotel siege ends While Khalistani elements in Canadian society and their activities like holding referendums for creation of separate homeland in India has irked New Delhi, government to government efforts remain on to keep ties better placed. Earlier this year both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau met on the sidelines of G7 summit in the Germany, the first such meet between the 2 leaders since 2018. The strategy also called for greater engagement with India for resilient supply chain and expects a "greater Canadian involvement and alignment with regional initiatives, such as the Australia-Japan-India Supply Chain Resilience Initiative". More and more countries are issuing Indo-Pacific strategy given the region has one of the fastest growing economies in the world, and a hub of global trade. The region is expected to contribute to 50% of global GDP by 2040 and 65% of global population.

Canada terms India as 'critical partner' under its new Indo-Pacific Strategy

Ahead of US Secretary of state Antony J&nbsp;Blinken's&nbsp;India visit, Washington has described India as a&nbsp;'critical partner in the region'&nbsp;with both countries having a&nbsp;'shared interest in a stable and secure Afghanistan'.&nbsp;Blinken&nbsp;will be in Delhi on&nbsp;July&nbsp;27 and 28, his first to the Indian capital since the new Biden administration took charge. In India, he will call on PM Modi and hold talks with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar.&nbsp;

In a briefing ahead of the visit, Acting Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Dean Thompson said, "Our bilateral discussions with our Indian partners will focus on expanding our security,&nbsp;defence, cyber, and counterterrorism cooperation."&nbsp;Blinken&nbsp;is the&nbsp;second Biden Administration official to visit Delhi this year, after United States Secretary of&nbsp;Defence, General (Retd.) Lloyd J Austin. This will also be his&nbsp;fourth meeting with EAM Jaishankar. They have&nbsp;earlier&nbsp;met in London, Washington and Italy.&nbsp;

Afghanistan remains the top focus, with Thompson pointing out, "We welcome India’s shared commitment to peace and supporting economic development in Afghanistan." He explained, "We expect that all the countries in the region have a shared interest in a stable and secure Afghanistan going forward" and so "we will certainly be looking at talking with our Indian partners about how we can work together to&nbsp;realise&nbsp;that goal, to find ways to bring the parties together, and continue to pursue a negotiated settlement to end the longstanding war."&nbsp;

Both sides have continued to engage on the issue. Earlier this month, India's&nbsp;external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar had met Dy NSA Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall and US Special Representative on Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad last week in Uzbekistan on the sidelines of the connectivity summit.&nbsp;

Other key issues will be Quad, with Thompson highlighting, "I expect the Quad and ideas about our engagements with the Quad to definitely factor into our conversations next week".&nbsp; The US is set to host the first in-person Quad summit later this year. March saw the first virtual leadership level meet in which the key outcome was the Quad vaccine partnership. Under the initiative, the plan is to roll out a billion doses of vaccines in 2020, with India as the base of manufacturing.&nbsp;

State Department said,&nbsp;"Quad leaders agreed on a shared vision for the region, one that’s free, open, inclusive, healthy, anchored by democratic values and respect for human rights, and where sovereignty is safeguarded.&nbsp; We’re working with India and other friends and partners in the region to advance this shared vision of the Indo-Pacific".&nbsp;

The ongoing Covid crisis remains part of the ongoing discussion. Washington had sent assistance to Delhi amid the&nbsp;second wave of crisis. Since March 2020, the US has allocated more than $226 million in Covid relief to India, additionally, $400 million has been contributed by American citizens and US companies.&nbsp;

Other issues like climate change will also be part of the talks. In April this year, US-India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 partnership was launched.&nbsp;

Ahead of US Secretary of state Antony J Blinken's India visit, Washington has described India as a 'critical partner in the region' with both countries having a 'shared interest in a stable and secure Afghanistan'.

Ahead of US Secretary of state Antony J Blinken's India visit, Washington has described India as a 'critical partner in the region' with both countries having a 'shared interest in a stable and secure Afghanistan'. Blinken will be in Delhi on July 27 and 28, his first to the Indian capital since the new Biden administration took charge. In India, he will call on PM Modi and hold talks with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar. In a briefing ahead of the visit, Acting Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Dean Thompson said, "Our bilateral discussions with our Indian partners will focus on expanding our security, defence, cyber, and counterterrorism cooperation." Blinken is the second Biden Administration official to visit Delhi this year, after United States Secretary of Defence, General (Retd.) Lloyd J Austin. This will also be his fourth meeting with EAM Jaishankar. They have earlier met in London, Washington and Italy. Afghanistan remains the top focus, with Thompson pointing out, "We welcome India’s shared commitment to peace and supporting economic development in Afghanistan." He explained, "We expect that all the countries in the region have a shared interest in a stable and secure Afghanistan going forward" and so "we will certainly be looking at talking with our Indian partners about how we can work together to realise that goal, to find ways to bring the parties together, and continue to pursue a negotiated settlement to end the longstanding war." Both sides have continued to engage on the issue. Earlier this month, India's external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar had met Dy NSA Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall and US Special Representative on Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad last week in Uzbekistan on the sidelines of the connectivity summit. Other key issues will be Quad, with Thompson highlighting, "I expect the Quad and ideas about our engagements with the Quad to definitely factor into our conversations next week". The US is set to host the first in-person Quad summit later this year. March saw the first virtual leadership level meet in which the key outcome was the Quad vaccine partnership. Under the initiative, the plan is to roll out a billion doses of vaccines in 2020, with India as the base of manufacturing. State Department said, "Quad leaders agreed on a shared vision for the region, one that’s free, open, inclusive, healthy, anchored by democratic values and respect for human rights, and where sovereignty is safeguarded. We’re working with India and other friends and partners in the region to advance this shared vision of the Indo-Pacific". The ongoing Covid crisis remains part of the ongoing discussion. Washington had sent assistance to Delhi amid the second wave of crisis. Since March 2020, the US has allocated more than $226 million in Covid relief to India, additionally, $400 million has been contributed by American citizens and US companies. Other issues like climate change will also be part of the talks. In April this year, US-India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 partnership was launched.

India critical partner in the region, says US State dept ahead of Blinken visit 

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