NewZNew (Chandigarh) : Consul General of India in Canada (Toronto) Mr. Akhilesh Mishra today called on the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal at the latter’s residence here this morning.

According to Mr. Harcharan Bains, Advisor to Chief Minister on National Affairs and Media, the meeting lasted nearly for 40 minutes during which Mr. Mishra briefed the Chief Minister on the issues of interest of Punjabi diaspora settled in Canada. Mr. Badal and Mr. Mishra also discussed ways to ensure greater interaction and exchange at the Government to Government and people to people level between Canada and the state of Punjab through renewed initiatives at the level of the federal governments of both the countries.

Mr. Mishra also assured the Chief Minister of greater efforts and initiatives by the Consulate General of India in Toronto. He suggested exchange of various delegations including business & trade, students, media besides cultural troops to further strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries in general and especially with Punjab.

Mr. Badal hugely appreciated the role being played by the Indian diplomats in Canada in helping the members of the Punjabi community settled there. He also welcomed the proposal mooted by Mr. Mishra for stepping up the exchange of delegations and hoped this step would go long way in further fostering a sense of goodwill, friendship and bonhomie between the people of Canada and the state of Punjab through people to people contact on one hand and to boost the trade and commerce activity on the other.

The Chief Minister was assisted at the meeting by his Advisor on National Affairs and Media.