Canadian PM meets Pranab

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Tuesday called on President Pranab Mukherjee and discussed a host of bilateral issues, including Canadian investment in ensuring India's food security.

Mukherjee, during the meeting, told Harper that both the countries need to build a firm partnership as he said there is a "need to encourage more investment in both directions, from Canada in India's infrastructure and from India in Canada's resources sector."

The President, according to a Rashtrapati Bhawan statement, said "cooperation with Canada in the field of agriculture is crucial to India's food security".

"India imports 40 per cent of its pulses and 25 per cent of its potash requirements from Canada. With India's large and growing population, food security in the coming years is a strategic imperative for India and Canada can be an important partner in this regard," Mukherjee said.

The Canadian Prime Minister said there is a need to focus on a few areas and deepen the engagement between the two countries.

He said India has needs which can be best served by Canada and for Canada, there is no emerging market more compatible than India to expand its engagement.

Harper specially lauded the cooperation between India and Canada within G-20 and said many important achievements have been made by the grouping due to the joint leadership of the two countries.

The President also recalled the historic ties between the two countries.

"India and Canada share fundamental values as inclusive democracies wedded to federalism, pluralism, individual liberty and human rights," Mukherjee said.

The President expressed happiness that Canada is home to 1.5 million people of Indian origin.

The Canadian PM is on a six-day visit to