Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi met Australian PM Scott Morrison’s Special Trade Envoy for India, Tony Abbott, on the last day of his five-day visit to India on Friday to discuss trade relations.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs press release stated that the duo “discussed ways to strengthen bilateral trade, investment and economic cooperation to realise the full potential of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.” They also highlighted the need to increase economic cooperation to overcome the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the release mentioned that their trade partnership would also help in “realising their shared vision of a stable, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.”
PM Modi also appreciated the role played by both Morrison and Abbott in expanding Australia’s ties with India. In this regard, he noted the success of his virtual summit with Australia in June 2020 and hoped to host the Australian PM soon.
During the virtual summit, the relationship between the two nations was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Through this, Australia committed to expand “trade and investment flows for mutual benefit” and “re-engage on a bilateral Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).” Abbott’s trip to India is in furtherance of this summit’s conclusions.
Friday’s meeting was also celebrated by the Australian High Commissioner to India, Barry O’ Farrell, who said the bilateral relations between the two countries are at a “historic high.” He added that the discussions focused on economic cooperation, “which will propel [the] economic relationship to its full potential, to the mutual benefit of the Indian and Australian people.”
Abbott also met several other Indian ministers, including Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and other officials from the ministry, representatives of think tanks, and business leaders.
Apart from their flourishing economic relations, the two countries have also witnessed increased engagement in defence and foreign affairs. Consequently, during the summit in June, the two sides upgraded their 2+2 foreign affairs and defence dialogue to the ministerial level. They also signed seven agreements, including the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement, to enhance interoperability between their armed forces.
In June, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh convened a virtual discussion with his Australian counterpart Peter Dutton to review the bilateral cooperation in defence and security, specifically in light of the regional tensions created by China’s aggressive activities in the Indo-Pacific. In this regard, they vowed to enhance their defence cooperation.
The India-Australia partnership is also strengthened by their participation in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or the Quad. Through this alliance, which includes Japan and the United States, India and Australia have expanded their cooperation and collaboration in the Indo-Pacific, specifically to counter China’s aggression in the region.
The two nations have also repeatedly reiterated their commitment towards a rules-based Indo-Pacific, for which they have engaged in several military and naval exercises. Their cooperation in both defence and trade is primarily aimed at countering China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific through its military and economic expansion.
Indian PM Modi Meets Australian PM’s Special Trade Envoy for India
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Tony Abbott, Australian PM Scott Morrison’s Special Trade Envoy for India, to discuss expanding the potential of the bilateral trade relations.
August 6, 2021
SOURCE: DECCAN HERALD