India, Canada made for each other: Modi tells Trudeau

Washington, Apr 2: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India and Canada were "made for each other" as he met his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau for the first time during which they reviewed bilateral ties including the progress on nuclear cooperation.

Prime Minister Modi and Trudeau met here on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit. This was their first meeting after Trudeau came to power last year, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said while briefing reporters on the bilateral meeting.

During Friday's meeting, the two leaders reviewed bilateral cooperation including progress in the nuclear energy sector.

Last year, Modi had held extensive talks with then Canadian Premier Stephen Harper after which Canada had agreed to supply 3,000 metric tonnes of uranium to energy-hungry India under a $254 million five-year deal to power Indian reactors.

During the meeting Friday, Prime Minister Modi noted that the cooperation in the nuclear energy sector was "progressing very well", Swarup said.

Last year's agreement for uranium supply came two years after protracted negotiations following the 2013 civil nuclear deal between India and Canada.

The two leaders also recalled their meeting when Modi visited Canada last year when Harper was the Prime Minister. Modi also congratulated Trudeau on his fantastic win in the November elections.

Modi noted that there was new energy, dynamism and speed in India-Canada relationship since Trudeau assumed office. The Prime Minister pointed out that possibilities for cooperation on the economic front were immense and the potential for economic cooperation had not been utilised, Swarup said.

Modi told Trudeau that India and Canada were "made for each other".

"The Prime Minister said Canada has all natural resources, India needs those resources. India also has human resource," Swarup said.

Trudeau also complemented Prime Minister Modi on his intervention last evening at the opening of the Nuclear Security Summit. The Prime Minister said India has a fruitful partnership with Canada and it is progressing well. "India is the land of Buddha and Gandhi and is committed to non-violence," Modi was quoted as saying by Swarup.

PTI