Toronto: Canada Prime Minster Stephen Harper on Wednesday hailed the relationship his nation shares with India, terming it a `special friendship` that the North American country truly values.
"We are here tonight to celebrate the special friendship that exists between India and Canada. It is a friendship we truly value. Our governments have set ambitious goals to renew and strengthen; we want to trade more with India, to invest more in India, to work more with India, to strengthen international security to make it easier for people to travel with India, and of course Prime Minister Modi, we are delighted that Canadians will now find it easier to visit India with your government`s decision to issue visas on arrival," Prime Minister Harper said, while addressing an Indian diaspora event at the Ricoh Coliseum here.
Prime Minister Harper also applauded the Indian community in Canada, noting that it is one of the most successful diasporas in the world.
"There are more men and women born in India and serving in Canada`s Parliament than any time in our history. Canada is home to one of the largest Sikh populations in the world... The relationship between Canada and India is important because of trade and investment but it is strong because of people and families," he said.
"The Indian community has a long and rich history in Canada. The first immigrants arrived in Canada over a century ago through ambition, ingenuity, hard work, and the Indo-Canadian community has grown in size and prominence: in fact, Canada is home to one of the largest and more successful Indian diasporas on earth," he added.
Prime Minister Harper also said that he takes pride in the fact that Canada was one of the first countries to extend the hand of friendship to Prime Minister Modi.
"Under your [Prime Minister Modi`s] leadership, Canadians feel closer to India than ever before. Canadians see in India a growing force for good in Asia and the world a force for democracy, tolerance and pluralism; a force for our mutual security that can be a model for all peoples to inspire to better things," he said.
"When he was the chief minister of Gujarat, we had extended our hand of friendship long before others. His visit to Canada is historic: the first stand-alone bilateral visit in over 40 decades. He is striving to make India a `vishwa guru`," he added.
Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister met Canadian Governor General David Johnston in Ottawa, before holding a tete-a-tete with Prime Minister Harper.
He also attended a ceremonial reception before being accorded a guard of honour.
Addressing the press, Prime Minister Modi later said that the agreement between the two countries on the procurement of uranium from Canada for India`s civilian nuclear power plants launches a new era of bilateral cooperation.
Prime Minister Modi later travelled to Toronto, and in a break from tradition, shared his flight with Prime Minster Harper, later meeting Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne.
The Prime Minister`s trip to Canada is the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 42 years.
