India, Oct. 15 -- Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand has said that her visit to India was part of Ottawa's "systematic approach" towards ties with New Delhi and the joint statement that was issued by the two countries was "meant to be the initial phase of a broader economic framework".

Anand was responding to questions during a videoconference from Mumbai prior to her departure from India.

"I met with the business community in Mumbai today. I met with the Canadian pension funds in Mumbai today. And there is a significant level of economic interaction between the Canadian and the Indian economy. A free trade negotiation and process would augment already strong economic ties with a framework. But the joint declaration that w...