In a major diplomatic outreach under Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, External Affairs Minister Anita Anand announced she will visit India, Singapore, and China from October 12 to 17 to advance bilateral relations and regional cooperation.

The visit, Anand said, aims to “build bridges and increase cooperation with India, Singapore and China,” adding, “For Canada to be strong at home, we need strong, stable partnerships abroad… I will be working to advance efforts to position Canada as a trusted, reliable partner of choice for Indo-Pacific countries and their economies.”

The trip marks the first official visit to India by a Canadian Foreign Minister in several years. Initial indications of the visit emerged following Anand’s meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

During her stay in New Delhi, Minister Anand will meet External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal to discuss trade diversification, energy transformation, and security cooperation. She will also travel to Mumbai to meet 

Canadian and Indian business leaders working to expand bilateral investments and job creation.

Canada and India share over 75 years of diplomatic relations, with deep people-to-people ties. India, projected to become the world’s fourth-largest economy in 2025, was Canada’s seventh-largest trading partner in 2024, with two-way trade totaling $33.9 billion, including $5.3 billion in Canadian exports. Key growth sectors include agriculture, critical minerals, and energy.

In Singapore, Anand will meet Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan as both countries mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Discussions will focus on progress toward a Canada-ASEAN free trade agreement, with efforts underway to conclude negotiations by 2026.

Singapore remains Canada’s largest source of foreign direct investment in Southeast Asia, totaling $7.8 billion in 2024, while bilateral merchandise trade reached $3.7 billion, up from $3.2 billion in 2023.

Minister Anand’s visit to Beijing will include meetings with Wang Yi, China’s Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs, as both countries mark 55 years of diplomatic ties. The discussions follow commitments by Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese Premier Li Qiang to regularize channels of communication under the Canada-China Strategic Partnership.

China remains Canada’s second-largest trading partner, with two-way trade totaling $118.7 billion in 2024, including $29.9 billion in exports and $88.8 billion in imports. Over 1.7 million Canadians of Chinese origin and ongoing tourism and cultural exchanges continue to enrich bilateral relations.

Launched in 2022, Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy outlines five key objectives focused on security, sustainable growth, and regional engagement. The initiative underscores Canada’s commitment to fostering inclusive prosperity and a secure future for the people and economies across the Pacific region.

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