News Highlights
As a boost to India – Australia relation Australian Deputy Prime Minister set to visit India that last between June 20 to 23.
Focus Points
- Pre to Australian Deputy Prime Minister visit to India he called India is one of Australia’s closest security partners and the government is focused on revitalising Australia’s historically deep engagement with our partners across the IndoÂPacific.
- Defence and security cooperation between India and Australia has significantly expanded in the past few years both at bilateral and multilateral levels.
- Stand on Indo – Pacific
- As per Australia the rules based international order that has brought peace and prosperity to the Indo – ÂPacific for decades is experiencing pressure, as we face shifts in the geostrategic order.
- Australia stands ready to work closer with India in support of an open, inclusive and resilient Indo -Pacific
Key Development in India – Australia Virtual Meet Prior This One
- Discussed Ukraine – Russia conflict and its implication on Indo – Pacific region.
- Focused for improving bilateral trade and investment ties and harness new economic opportunities to support mutual economic recovery and growth
- The India Australia relationship was elevated to a ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’.
About India – Australia Relation
Timeline of India – Australia Relation
- 1941 – Establishment of diplomatic relation by opening Consulate General of India in Sydney was first opened as a Trade Office in 1941
- 1945 – India’s first High Commissioner to Australia
- 1962 – Supported India during border dispute with China
- 1985 – Visit of Australian Foreign Minister to India
- 1992 – Establishment of Australia – India Council.
- 2009 – Establishment of strategic partnership
- Recently India – Australia become part of QUAD grouping
Commonality in India – Australia Relation
Areas of Cooperation in India – Australia Relation
- Political Relation
- In 2009, the two countries formed a “Strategic Partnership,” which included a Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation, which was upgraded to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” in 2020.
- The Prime Ministers from both nations, participated in the India-Australia Leaders’ Virtual Summit in 2020
- Maritime Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, Defence, Cyber Security, Education, Mining, Water Resource Management, and other MoUs were signed.
- Sharing common platforms like G-20, Commonwealth, IOR-ARC, QUAD, ASEAN Regional Forum, Asia Pacific Partnership on Climate and Clean Development, and have participated in the East Asia Summits.
- Australia supports India’s candidature in an expanded UN Security Council.
- Australia is an important player in APEC and supports India’s membership of the organization. In 2008, Australia became an Observer in SAARC.
- Establishment of 2+2 Dialogue
- Australia views India as a potential partner.
- Both face common threats like China rising in the Indo – Pacific region.
- Economic Relation
- Australia is India’s eighth largest trading partner and India is Australia’s fifth largest.
- India is Australia’s largest export market for gold and chickpeas, second largest market for coal and copper ores and third largest market for lead and wool.
- India’s major exports to Australia in 2010-11 were pearls and gems, jewellery, medicaments and passenger motor vehicles.
- The India-Australia Joint Ministerial Commission was established in 1989
- Establishment of Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA)
- India Economic Strategy 2017 between both countries to increase investment and trade.
- The India-Australia CEO Forum is a platform for businesses from both countries to discuss strategies to strengthen their bilateral trade and investment ties (It was established in 2011 and revitalized in November 2014).
- Defence Relation
- Joint exercise like AUSINDEX since 2015 , exercise Pitch Black is a biennial warfare exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and AUSTRAHIND (Special Forces of Army Exercise)
- Science and Technology Relation
- Establishment of Australia – India Strategic Research Fund to encourage research.
- Australia’s assistance for Clean Ganga Program.
- Part of International Solar Alliance.
- Civil Nuclear Energy deals
- A Joint Working Group (JWG) for cooperation in Agriculture has been set up
- Cultural Cooperation
- The Joint Working Group Meeting between India’s Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Australia’s Department of Education, Skills and Employment was held virtually in 2020, following the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Vocational Education and Training.
- Rapid growth of Indian diaspora in Australia.
- Establishment of Cricket diplomacy and hockey diplomacy.
Issues in Relation
- 457 visa issue
- Racial attacks
- Restricted trade because no free trade agreement
How to Boost Relationships ?
- As Chinese threat rises in the region both the parties should boost the relation by time to time coordination.
- Both parties should sign Free Trade Relation to boost economic prospects.
- Ensure safety of diaspora.
Pic Courtesy: Freepik
Content Source : The Hindu