Chandigarh (PTI): Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan inaugurated the new office of the Consulate General of Canada here on Friday and said nations do not build relationships, people do.

“I am very proud of the work being done by the Consulate-General of Canada in Chandigarh in strengthening people-to-people ties between Punjab and Canada. Nations do not build a relationship, people do,” he said.

Amid tight security arrangements, Sajjan reached the Elante office complex here shortly after 9 a.m. and inaugurated the new office of the consulate, which offers a wide range of services, including assistance to the Canadians, helping companies to do business with Canada, and visa services.

The Indian-born Canadian defence minister who is on a seven-day visit to India from April 17, later held a meeting with Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar at Chandigarh airport, officials here said.

On Thursday, Sajjan had paid obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar and also visited the All India Pingalwara Charitable Society on the outskirts of the city, where he met under-privileged children. Later that afternoon, he visited a girls’ orphanage in Jalandhar.

Sajjan also went to his native village of Bambeli in Hoshiarpur district of Punjab where he was accorded a warm welcome by the villagers.

(Photos: Twitter)