Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has hailed his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi as a "unique" leader, signaling a significant thaw in bilateral relations between the two nations.

Speaking at a seminar hosted by the Lowy Institute in Sydney on Wednesday, Carney reflected on his high-profile visit to India and expressed deep admiration for PM Modi’s work ethic and focus on digital transformation.

"The guy is unique," Carney remarked during the discussion. "He has not taken a day off in 25 years, either as the Chief Minister of Gujarat or as the Prime Minister. Every weekend, he is out campaigning and gets 250,000 people in his rally."

The Canadian leader particularly commended Modi’s focus on the rural population and his success in bringing hundreds of millions of people into the formal economy through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).

Carney noted that the "transformation of the payment system" was a key achievement, allowing the government to transfer funds directly to individuals in real-time without "leakage" in the system.

The recent visit served as a strategic "reset" for Canada-India ties, which had faced challenges in recent years. During the trip, the two leaders oversaw the exchange of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) spanning technology and cultural cooperation.

Carney declared this a "new era of partnership," highlighting that Canada is now "well-positioned to contribute to India's energy needs."

This includes a major long-term agreement for the Canadian firm Cameco to supply uranium to India.Addressing the human element of the partnership, Carney pointed out that nearly two million Canadians trace their heritage back to India.

He also confirmed that the two countries are currently in the process of renewing a vital defense cooperation agreement.

This diplomatic shift suggests a prioritized focus on energy security, digital innovation, and regional stability between Ottawa and New Delhi.

Source: ANI