A senior Indian minister held talks with Canadian officials on Monday to discuss critical mineral cooperation. 

Indian Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi met with Ranj Pillai, the Premier of Canada’s Yukon territory. According to a post on Joshi’s X account, formerly known as Twitter, the pair “deliberated enhancing cooperation in the mining sector, especially mining of critical minerals”. 

He added that both elected officials “resolved to strengthen the supply-chain of critical minerals between both nations”.  

The meeting comes amid tense geopolitical relations between the two nations after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of being complicit in the assassination of a Sikh activist in Western Canada in June. 

The Indian Government has not specified the critical minerals that were under discussion among ministers. 

Canada’s Yukon territory, located in the north-west of the country, contains extensive minerals resources including asbestos, copper, gold, iron, lead, silver and zinc, according to a statement from the Indian Government. 

According to India’s Ministry of Mines, the country is a major producer of manganese and copper, among other minerals. Earlier this year, the Indian Government also announced the discovery of 5.9 million tonnes of inferred lithium ore. 

Pillai extended an invitation for an Indian delegation to visit the Yukon territory as a means of exploring investment opportunities. Joshi also briefed the delegation on a recently formed entity, called KABIL, through which the ministry will outsource critical and strategic minerals. 

According to the statement from the Indian Government, “the officials from both sides will deliberate on the way forward for cooperation in the field of mineral resources”.  

“This meeting has paved the way to deepen cooperation between both the countries,” the statement added. 

Earlier this month, India hosted the G20 summit in New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also embarked on a number of state visits in recent month as he seeks to build stronger ties with Western governments.