Blitz Bureau
EXTERNAL Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on November 2 highlighted the steady progress of India’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Australia during his 15th Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Canberra.
The visit included a “Welcome to Country” and a Smoking Ceremony with Senator Penny Wong, followed by the Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue.
“Australia and India are close partners with strong strategic, economic, and community ties. It is significant to note that almost one million Australians trace their heritage to India,” the Australian foreign ministry said in a press release, adding that the two countries share a vision for an IndoPacific region that is “peaceful, stable, and prosperous.”
As India and Australia approach the fifth anniversary of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2025, the Dialogue served as an opportunity for both ministers to review achievements and plan the next phase of collaboration. Discussions focused on key areas of cooperation, including advancements in science and technology, clean energy initiatives, trade and investment, and strengthened defence and maritime security.
“India is the world’s fastest-growing major economy and is on track to become the third largest by the end of the decade. India is, therefore, an essential partner for Australia as it seeks to diversify its trade links and secure its supply chains,” the release said, emphasising India’s significance in Australia’s economic and strategic landscape.
New consulate
Jaishankar inaugurated a new Indian consulate in Brisbane on November 1. He described the opening as a “landmark moment” in the evolving partnership between the two nations.
