PM Modi to attend G7 Summit in Canada after call from Mark Carney, says, 'look forward to...'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said he will be attending the G7 Summit later this month in Canada and that he looked forward to meeting his newly elected Canadian counterpart Mark Carney. Carney called up Modi as the Indian prime minister thanked him for the invite to the Summit in Kananaskis.

PM Modi said on X, "As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. Look forward to our meeting at the Summit."

India's ties with Canada turned frosty under the government of Carney's predecessor Justin Trudeau over a host of issues, including the activities of Khalistani separatists in the country. Trudeau had alleged the likely Indian involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a radical Khalistani activist.

The diplomatic ties between the two countries were downgraded as the diplomatic row between them escalated.

G7 is the grouping of seven richest countries, and India has been getting an invitation to attend the prestigious Summit since 2019.

The expected meeting between Modi and Carney, who is the new leader of the ruling Liberal Party following Trudeau's resignation as his party's fortunes dimmed under him, has raised the hope of a thaw in the ties between the countries.

Carney was elected as prime minister in the snap election in March this year. The G7 bloc includes the US, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan besides Canada.

(With inputs from news agency PTI).