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It was second such face-to-face meeting.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper sat down on the side of G-8 meeting in Rusutsu (Japan) July 9 to discuss a range of issues, including Afghanistan, enhanced trade, civil nuclear cooperation, and climate change.
According to Harper's office in Ottawa, the Canadian Prime Minister conveyed his condolences for the loss of life at the Indian Embassy in Kabul in terrorist attack July 8
He thanked India for its support and civilian assistance in Afghanistan.
In a separate statement, Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister David Emersion said 'Canada strongly condemns the suicide bombing that took place today (July 8) outside the Indian Embassy. We offer our profound sympathies to the families and friends of those killed in the attack and wish a speedy recovery to those injured.
"There's no justification for this vicious attack,' Emersion said. 'It is the desperate act of those who wish to undermine Afghan stability by indiscriminately killing innocent civilians, including women and children.'
He went on to note 'We are heartened by India's determined response to continue meeting its substantial commitment to Afghanistan. India will continue to be an important partner in international efforts to rebuild the country.'
Conservative MP Deepak Obhrai, who's Parliamentary Secretary to Foreign Affairs Minister, and oversees Afghanistan also, attended Afghanistan Reconstruction conference in 2006 which was hosted by India in New Delhi. "India and Canada are working to stabilize Afghanistan," he said in a telephone interview from Calgary.
"India is playing a very crucial role in rebuilding Afghanistan," he said. "India is seen as Canada's ally not only in fighting against terrorism, but India is our ally in ensuring stable Afghanistan. That's the reason Canada is shocked at this terrorist attack which is directed to destabilize Afghanistan which will impact on Canadian efforts as well."
As could be expected, in their summit in Japan, Manmohan Singh also thanked Harper and noted the long history of friendship between the two countries.
The current two-way trade between Canada and India is of the order of $3.7-billion and two sides have publicly conceded the potential is so much more. The two leaders, therefore, called for further development of Canada and India's trade and investment relationship,
Harper's office said both Prime Ministers noted the importance of Canada's Indo-Canadian community in building economic and cultural links between the two countries. In this connection, it was stated that Harper has made a concerted effort to engage the Indian diaspora through consultations with members of the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce, Canada-India Foundation and other business and community leaders.
It was as a result of those consultations, Harper's office said, that the Canadian Prime Minister announced the opening of new trade missions in Kolkata and Hyderabad as well as an increased presence at the existing Canadian missions in New Delhi and Mumbai.
Informed sources say two new Canadian trade offices would start functioning in September.
The two sides have already finalized the Foreign Investment Protection Agreement. Both Prime Ministers, it was revealed, agreed to intensify efforts to complete this Agreement by the end of this year in order to create momentum in building the economic relationship.
As was expected, Dr Singh raised the issue of civilian nuclear cooperation between Indian and other countries.
In fact former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh and on the Canadian side foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew had signed the agreement in 2005 in civilian nuclear cooperation.
Canadian Prime Minister's office said Harper noted the G8 statement on this subject that Canada, while cautious on proliferation issues, would consider this issue with an open mind in the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Canada is a member of NSG and so its vote there when civilian nuclear issue, part of India-US agreement comes for approval, becomes crucial. A single vote against can mar the agreement.
Building Canada's relationship with India has been a foreign policy priority for Harper, said the official statement. 'Our government is expanding Canada's reach in India beyond our traditional focus in the northern region,' Harper said in a recent speech in Toronto. 'Because India's boom is not just happening in the north, and Canada needs to be where all the action is.'
Harper and Manmohan Singh met November last year in Uganda when the two leaders went there for Commonwealth Prime Minister Conference. That time Harper extended an official invitation to Manmohan Singh to pay an official visit to Canada.
It seems this issue didn't come up for discussion in Japan.
Image: Manmohan singh with Stephen Harper in Japan. Photograph courtesy: Harper's offcie.