Paris, 27 March: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a bilateral meeting with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand on Wednesday on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in France, with the two leaders focusing on expanding collaboration across critical sectors and reviewing regional developments.
In a post on X, Anand said the discussion centred on strengthening cooperation in areas such as critical minerals, agriculture, education and trade, while also assessing the escalating situation in West Asia. She noted that the meeting builds on progress made during the recent visit of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to India.
“Met with my Indian counterpart, @DrSJaishankar, to follow up on the partnership our Prime Ministers advanced during our visit to India earlier this year. We discussed trade, the situation in the Middle East, and key areas where we can deepen cooperation,” Anand wrote.
Separately, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also met Jaishankar and exchanged views on the worsening West Asia crisis. In a statement on X, Wadephul said the two sides remain aligned in their concerns over the regional fallout and discussed potential diplomatic pathways to stabilisation.
“Always good meeting you, Dr S Jaishankar. Our frequent exchanges are a sign of the strong partnership between India and Germany,” he posted.
Earlier, speaking at the G7 session with invited partners on global governance reform, Jaishankar underscored the urgent need for United Nations Security Council reform, more efficient peacekeeping mechanisms and stronger humanitarian supply chains. He highlighted key challenges facing the Global South, including energy security, fertiliser availability and food supply vulnerabilities.
At another session, Jaishankar reiterated India’s support for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, stressing that ongoing instability in West Asia reinforces the need for resilient global trade routes and diversified supply chains.
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