PM Modi and Australian PM strengthen comprehensive strategic partnership
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Australian PM Anthony Albanese in Sydney on Wednesday in which the two nations decided to further take their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to new heights, deepen defence and security ties, strengthen trade ties by focusing on talks for the early conclusion of a bilateral Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), with the two leaders also welcoming the signing of the India-Australia Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement (MMPA) “which will further facilitate mobility of students, professionals, researchers, academics and others”, and also “finalisation of the terms of reference of the India-Australia Hydrogen Task Force, which will advise on opportunities to accelerate manufacture and deployment of clean hydrogen”.
Describing the “deep ties, convergence of thought and maturity of cooperation” in cricket parlance as reflective that bilateral ties were in the “T-20 mode”, Modi also said the issue of the subservise activities of pro-Khalistan “separatist” elements on Australian soil, including Hindu temple attacks, was also discussed, as he thanked Albanese for the steps the Australian government had taken against such elements and also for the assurances by Albanese. Modi also said that attempts by such elements to damage the warm and friendly ties between the two nations will “not be acceptable”.
In a special media briefing in Sydney after the talks, India’s foreign secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra described the talks between the two leaders as “frank, honest, focused, outcome-driven and very productive”. Referring to the action taken by the Australian government against pro-Khalistan elements, the foreign secretary said “whatever the two systems (Indian and Australian) needs to do will be done by the two governments”. Kwatra also said defence ties were being strengthened and Australia would host the Malabar multi-nation naval exercises this year. He added that the next rounds of negotiations for the proposed CECA would take place in June and July. Asked whether Chinese military assertiveness in the region had been discussed, the foreign secretary said that “areas of regional significance came up for discussion” to ensure a “free, open and stable Indo-Pacifc region”, thereby indicating that Beijing’s actions in the region had indeed been discussed.
In a statement that “reaffirmed their commitment to further broadening and deepening of the multifaceted India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”, New Delhi said that the bilateral “discussions focused on cooperation in defence and security, trade and investment, new and renewable energy, green hydrogen, critical minerals, education, migration and mobility and people-to-people ties”. The foreign secretary also said the three areas of “intense focus” during the talks were “green hydrogen, mobility as well as defence and security”.
In his remarks, Australian PM Anthony Albanese said the key pillars of the bilateral ties between the two nations were “trade, investment and business, defence and security ties, climate and energy as well as people-to-people ties. He announced that his country would set up a consulate in Bengaluru while India would set up a consulate in Brisbane, that Modi had referred to earlier Tuesday. He also said that there was a shared ambition fot early conclusion of the proposed CECA pact later this year. It may be recalled the two nations had already signed an Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) that came into force last year which had eliminated tariffs for more than 85 per cent of Australian goods exported into India. But the CECA is set to be a more comprehensive pact.
The Australian PM was also quoted as stating: “Prime Minister (Modi) and I are pleased to have just witnessed the exchange of the Australia-India migration and mobility partnership agreement. This arrangement will promote the exchange of students, graduates, researchers and businesspeople, expand our people to people ties and enhance cooperation in preventing people smuggling.”
In its statement, the MEA said: “Both leaders welcomed the signing of the India-Australia Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement (MMPA), which will further facilitate mobility of students, professionals, researchers, academics and others, including through a new skilled pathway named MATES (Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early Professionals Scheme) specifically created for India… They also welcomed the finalisation of terms of reference of the India-Australia Hydrogen Task Force, which will advise on opportunities to accelerate manufacture and deployment of clean hydrogen, focusing on hydrogen electrolysers, fuel cells as well as supporting infrastructure and standards and regulations. Prime Minister Modi thanked Australia for its support in establishing a Consulate-General of India in Brisbane. The two leaders reiterated their determination to ensure a peaceful, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, underpinned by a rules-based international order. They also discussed reform of UN Security Council”.
The MEA added: “The two leaders reiterated their determination to ensure a peaceful, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, underpinned by a rules-based international order. They also discussed reform of the UN Security Council. Prime Minister Albanese expressed Australia’s strong support to India’s G-20 presidency and initiatives. The Prime Minister looked forward to welcoming Prime Minister Albanese for the G-20 summit in New Delhi in September 2023.”