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Continuing the diplomatic engagement that resumed late last year, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Indira Anand and India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Wednesday in Manila to advance the agenda outlined by the two countries’ prime ministers.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
The two ministers have maintained regular contact since relations between India and Canada began improving. In addition to previous meetings on the sidelines of the United Nations, Anand had invited Jaishankar to the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Niagara in November last year. She also visited India in March this year.
Following her meeting with Jaishankar, Anand shared details of the discussions on social media.
“In March, I accompanied Prime Minister Carney to India, where he and Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation for expanding trade and investment between our countries, as well as strengthening people-to-people ties. My meeting with Dr. S. Jaishankar in Manila built on that progress, with discussions focused on critical minerals, agriculture, and education,” she wrote.
She added, “Two-way merchandise trade reached $10.9 billion last year, providing Canada and India with a strong foundation for continued growth.”
Jaishankar also commented on the meeting through social media.
“Appreciated the discussion with Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anand this afternoon. India-Canada cooperation has been steadily growing. Our conversation focused on advancing the objectives for the bilateral relationship set by our prime ministers,” he said.
Separately, Anand highlighted Canada’s engagement at the ASEAN meetings, emphasizing the country’s commitment to strengthening economic ties across the Indo-Pacific.
“We are building a more resilient economic foundation across the Indo-Pacific, and ASEAN is an important partner in that effort. In 2025, Canada’s trade with the region exceeded $52 billion. Concluding the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement would further reduce barriers, improve market access, and create new opportunities for trade and investment,” she said.
Anand also announced more than $10 million in new Canadian initiatives aimed at supporting regional cooperation.
“Today, Canada announced more than $10 million in new initiatives to help strengthen the conditions for that partnership to grow. These investments will support biosecurity, combat financial crime, protect children from exploitation, assist migrant workers, and advance women’s leadership across ASEAN,” she said.
On her meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Anand said, “Minister Wang Yi and I met in Manila to advance work toward a new Strategic Partnership between our two countries. Our discussions covered practical cooperation in trade, agriculture, and other key sectors, including areas where further progress could benefit Canadian workers and businesses. We also exchanged views on regional and global security issues.”
Anand also underscored Vietnam’s growing importance in Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy following her meeting with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Lê Hoài Trung.
“Canadian businesses are increasingly looking to Vietnam as a gateway to new customers and supply chains across Southeast Asia. As Canada’s largest trading partner in ASEAN, Vietnam plays a central role in expanding our economic presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets,” she said.
She added, “Foreign Minister Lê Hoài Trung and I discussed how to build on that momentum by expanding market access and commercial opportunities. With Vietnam chairing the CPTPP Commission this year, our two countries can also work together to strengthen the agreement while coordinating on the security developments shaping the broader region.”
