External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said that the 16th India–Australia Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue continues to serve as a key pillar of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
Holding talks in New Delhi with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Jaishankar said the partnership reflects shared trust, democratic values and a common vision for a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific.
“As we mark five years of that partnership, the warmth and ease of cooperation are visible to all. We have seen expansion across all areas including trade and investment, defence and security, education and skills, science and technology, space, energy and especially in people-to-people contacts,” Jaishankar said in his opening remarks. He noted that the progress owes much to the guidance of the prime ministers of both nations.
Jaishankar said the meeting provides an opportunity to review the progress made so far and to shape the agenda for the next phase of relations. Recommendations from the dialogue, he said, would be considered when the prime ministers of both countries meet soon.
The Minister highlighted the steady growth in trade and investment linkages and expressed hope that ongoing negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement could be concluded soon. He cited the recent visit of Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal to Australia as a sign of positive momentum, adding that “trade numbers today speak for themselves, and those numbers are looking increasingly good.”
Jaishankar thanked Australia for its support to India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission and welcomed Canberra’s plan to launch a satellite using an Indian launch vehicle.
Speaking about the current geopolitical environment, Jaishankar said democracies like India and Australia carry greater responsibility in addressing shared challenges. “There are common challenges for us to address, including maritime security, resilient supply chains, countering terrorism and climate action. It is essential that we sustain strong momentum in our ties and deliver tangible outcomes through shared regional and global priorities,” he said.
—IANS