Co-operation on nuclear energy and boosting trade and investment top the agenda for Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper who began his India visit Monday, officials said. The Canadian leader who arrived in the western city of Mumbai late Sunday is scheduled to hold talks with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh on Tuesday. He is accompanied by Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon and International Trade Minister Stockwell Day.
Harper on Monday paid homage to the victims of Nariman House, a Jewish centre, which was one of the targets of last November's terrorist attacks in the city. More than 160 people including 26 foreign nationals were killed in three-day attacks perpetrated by alleged Pakistani militants beginning November 26.
The Canadian leader along with several Rabbis visited the centre and lit a candle at the premises. He was scheduled to meet Indian business leaders and leave for national capital New Delhi later Monday night. According to Indian External Affairs Ministry officials, Singh and Harper are to discuss a range of bilateral issues including trade and investment and prospects of civil nuclear co-operation; the global financial crisis as well as climate change.
"The focus during the talks on Tuesday evening is likely to be on a bilateral civil nuclear deal the two sides have been negotiating for sometime. The talks are expected to firm up the deal but it might not be signed during Harper's visit," an official said.
India has signed a civil nuclear agreements with seven countries up to now, after the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group last year lifted a 34-year ban on the South Asian country. New Delhi has already signed similar pacts with the United States, France, Russia, Kazakhstan, Namibia, Argentina and Mongolia. The two sides are also likely to discuss a free trade agreement and other steps to lower trade barriers between the two countries.
A number of agreements are expected to be signed including a foreign investment protection agreement and on energy and farming co-operation in a bid to expand bilateral trade estimated at below 5 billion dollars. Following his official engagements on Tuesday, Harper is due to visit Sikhism's holiest shrine, the Golden Temple in the northern state of Punjab on Wednesday before leaving for Ottawa.
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