I am delighted to welcome you to the second edition of the India-Canada Track 1.5 Dialogue on Innovation, Growth and Prosperity. A special welcome to our friends from Canada who have travelled a long distance to be in Mumbai.
I compliment Gateway House and the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) for their efforts in steering the Track 1.5 Dialogue initiative, which Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Trudeau had agreed upon in February 2018. This initiative was meant to facilitate free and frank discussions between both sides, aimed at generating new ideas and pathways for our partnership. Our policy-makers and thought leaders coming together can enrich one another and enrich our cooperation across a range of areas.
This year, the successful conduct of general elections in both India and Canada celebrates our shared democratic traditions and provides an opportunity for a new state in our relationship, which can expand through growing geopolitical convergence, intensifying economic collaboration and unprecedented scale of people-to-people interaction. Holding the Track 1.5 Dialogue at this juncture is extremely timely.
I hope that this Dialogue will generate new energy, synergy and ideas that both governments can benefit from. I wish the Dialogue success.
Dr. S. Jaishankar is the Minister for External Affairs, Government of India.
This speech was delivered as the Keynote Address at the India-Canada Track 1.5 Dialogue, held in Mumbai on the 22 November 2019.
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