NEW DELHI – Canadian PM Justin Trudeau met Prime Minister Narendra Modi onFriday following which the two sides inked six pacts to boost trade andbilateral ties further.

The two sides held extensive talks, exploring ways to boost ties in severalkey areas, including trade and energy.

India and Canada later inked six pacts including, including one on energycooperation.

Addressing a joint press briefing with Trudeau, PM Narendra Modi said,”Your visit was long awaited, we are happy that you visited along withyour family.”

”We discussed many issues including deference operation. Terrorism andextremism are a threat to countries like ours and to fight these elementsit is important for us to come together,” PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister also called on the need to combat the menace ofterrorism together.

”It is important that we work together to fight terrorism,” PM NarendraModi said after holding talks with Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau.

”Those who challenge our sovereignty and territorial integrity cannot betolerated,” PM Modi said at a joint press meet with Trudeau, adding,”There should no place for those who misuse religion for politicalgoals.”.

Hailing Canada, the Prime Minister said, ”Canada is an importantdestination for Indian students when it comes to higher education, morethan 1 lakh 20 thousand of our students are there. We renewed our MoU onhigher education which will enhance the exchange in terms of highereducation.”

”Canada is an energy super-power, it can fulfill our increasing energydemands,” PM Modi said.

On his turn, Trudeau said, ” We share not only rich a history but a set ofvalues that encourage a natural friendship between our two countries.”

”As Canada looks to diversify its own economy and looks for newopportunities to do business beyond its boundaries, India is a naturalpartner and a trusted friend for commercial cooperation,” Trudeau said.

Earlier, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had called on the CanadianPrime Minister and discussed various issues of mutual interest.

“Picture speaks for itself! EAM @SushmaSwaraj had a warm meeting with thePrime Minister of Canada @JustinTrudeau and discussed ways to strengthenand deepen our partnership,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)spokesperson Raveesh Kumar had tweeted and posted a picture of the twoleaders.

Trudeau was earlier accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had welcomed his Canadian counterpart with ahug ahead of a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, putting torest speculations about the government cold-shouldering the visitingdignitary.

After Trudeau, his wife Sophie, and children Xavier, Ella-Grace andHadrien, alighted from a car on the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.Modi shook hands with Trudeau and then hugged him.

On Thursday evening, breaking his silence since the Canadian PrimeMinister`s arrival in India on February 17, PM Modi said that he lookedforward to the bilateral meeting on February 23 (Friday).

“I appreciate his (Trudeau`s) deep commitment to ties between our twocountries,” Modi tweeted.

At the Rashtrapati Bhavan, while Modi shook hands with Sophie Trudeau,Xavier and little Hadrien, he had a special hug reserved for Elle-Grace.

On Thursday, the PM had posted a picture of him playfully tweakingElle-Grace`s ears with Trudeau smilingly looking on during a visit toCanada in 2015.

“I particularly look forward to meeting his children Xavier, Ella-Grace,and Hadrien,” Modi said in his tweet.

Hadrien, who will turn four this month, was the cynosure of all eyes at theRashtrapati Bhavan as he stumbled and struggled to hold on to his hat asModi playfully stroked his cheeks.

The ceremonial reception optics came after much speculation that Modi andhis government was cold-shouldering Trudeau during his eight-day statevisit to India.

The visiting dignitary and his family have since visited Agra, Ahmedabad,Mumbai and Amritsar.

While Modi did not accompany Trudeau to Ahmedabad, a meeting with PunjabChief Minister Amarinder Singh in Amritsar on Wednesday was organised onlyat the last moment.

Ties between New Delhi and Ottawa have been frosty of late as Canada wasbeing seen as offering a platform to separatists demanding an independentKhalistan.

On Thursday, a fresh storm blew after it came to light that the CanadianHigh Commission here had extended an invitation to a convicted Khalistanseparatist, Jaspal Atwal, for a reception in honour of Trudeau.

The High Commission then rescinded the invitation while the Indian ExternalAffairs Ministry said that it was ascertaining how a visa was issued toAtwal who holds a Canadian passport.

Trudeau later said that the matter was being taken “extremely seriously”and that Atwal should never have received an invitation.

The visit of Trudeau, who assumed office in November 2015, comes after thevisit of Modi to Canada in April that year.

Following Friday`s bilateral summit between the two leaders, a number ofagreements were expected to be signed.