Canada firmly believed in heterogeneous society and is open to immigration and trade with India and other countries, said the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during his visit to Gujarat on Monday.
At a time when most of the countries are in the process to raise barriers, the Canadian PM’s statement seems to be forward-looking as he said that the new reality for the 21st century would be heterogeneous societies.
Talking at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA), Trudeau said that Canada-India trade of $8 billion in goods and $2 billion in services currently had the potential to grow. According to him, India and Canada should look at source of strength and not weakness. Advocating a pluralistic approach, he said that in such condition one meets people with different stories and eventually grow.
On Monday, Trudeau arrived at Ahmedabad on the third day of his week-long tour to India. Accompanied by his wife Shophie and three children - Xavier, Hadrien and Ella-Grace- the Canadian Prime Minister preferred to wear Indian traditional attire. Members of his family made it a point to don traditional Indian outfits. Straight away from the airport, he went to Gandhi Ashram situated on the bank of River Sabarmati to pay tribute of Mahatma Gandhi and also tried his hands on spinning wheel.
“A beautiful place of peace, humanity and truth, that is as needed today as ever,” Justin wrote in the visitor’s book before leaving for Akshardham Temple in State capital Gandhinagar. Trudeau family spent nearly 40 minutes at the famous temple and also meet Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
After the event at IIMA, he took up few questions from media. He opined that it was important to support media as it identifies that where Government doing wrong. According to him independent media was essential for successful democracy.