TORONTO-The prime ministers of Canada and India announced a new agreement Sunday that will give Canada’s nuclear industry access to the civilian nuclear industry in India.
The two leaders held a briefing with the media on the heels of the G20 Summit in Toronto and ahead of a banquet dinner at the Westin Harbour Castle Sunday night. The banquet was hosted by Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar and the attendees were senior government members and business leaders.
It was the first visit of a sitting Indian prime minister to Canada in 37 years, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper told the banquet.
India already has a similar nuclear agreement with the U.S., and last year President Barack Obama said India had been complying with requirements on the safeguards on its nuclear facilities.
The prime ministers addressed questions from both Canadian and Indian media on the safeguards.
“Let me just say that we did engage in extensive negotiations to deal with those issues, and the Indian side was very forthcoming with the safeguards we require to have absolute confidence on those kinds of matters,” Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said.
Indian PM Manmohan Singh was adamant that all nuclear material and equipment supplied to India would be handled under its agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
“We have a full-proof system of export controls,” Prime Minister Singh said. “We have complete civilian control of our own nuclear facilities. And as such there is absolutely no scope whatsoever of the nuclear materials and nuclear supply to India being used for unintended purposes.”
The leaders described the nuclear agreement as a sign of things to come in a partnership they say will grow in importance.
Describing India as an “important country that will be even more important in the future,” Harper said India shares with Canada “key values, it shares with us key interests in the world and faces the same threats.”
Dr. Singh, who like Harper is also an economist, referred to India’s shared values of “human rights and the rule of law” as well as “our democratic way of life and our pluralism.”
“We want to make sure we send the message that we are going to be friends and allies on a very big level going forward in the future,” Harper said.”
The two leaders also announced progress on an economic partnership and the signing of memorandums on cultural exchange, higher education, and earth sciences and mining.
The two leaders held a briefing with the media on the heels of the G20 Summit in Toronto and ahead of a banquet dinner at the Westin Harbour Castle Sunday night. The banquet was hosted by Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar and the attendees were senior government members and business leaders.
It was the first visit of a sitting Indian prime minister to Canada in 37 years, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper told the banquet.
India already has a similar nuclear agreement with the U.S., and last year President Barack Obama said India had been complying with requirements on the safeguards on its nuclear facilities.
The prime ministers addressed questions from both Canadian and Indian media on the safeguards.
“Let me just say that we did engage in extensive negotiations to deal with those issues, and the Indian side was very forthcoming with the safeguards we require to have absolute confidence on those kinds of matters,” Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said.
Indian PM Manmohan Singh was adamant that all nuclear material and equipment supplied to India would be handled under its agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
“We have a full-proof system of export controls,” Prime Minister Singh said. “We have complete civilian control of our own nuclear facilities. And as such there is absolutely no scope whatsoever of the nuclear materials and nuclear supply to India being used for unintended purposes.”
The leaders described the nuclear agreement as a sign of things to come in a partnership they say will grow in importance.
Describing India as an “important country that will be even more important in the future,” Harper said India shares with Canada “key values, it shares with us key interests in the world and faces the same threats.”
Dr. Singh, who like Harper is also an economist, referred to India’s shared values of “human rights and the rule of law” as well as “our democratic way of life and our pluralism.”
“We want to make sure we send the message that we are going to be friends and allies on a very big level going forward in the future,” Harper said.”
The two leaders also announced progress on an economic partnership and the signing of memorandums on cultural exchange, higher education, and earth sciences and mining.
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