New Delhi : India and Australia on Saturday saw growing convergence on security issues and their shared commitment for a free, open, prosperous and rules-based Indo-Pacific region even as they emphasised that Afghanistan must not allow its soil to be used for terrorism.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, along with their defence ministers – Rajnath Singh from India and Peter Dutton from Australia, met here for the inaugural India-Australia 2+2 ministerial dialogue – a format “reflective” of their growing engagement under the umbrella of the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
In their first in-person meeting, the four ministers discussed their experiences and further collaboration in responding to the Covid-19 challenges.
“Decentralized globalization, strategic autonomy, sharper sense of national security are some of the relevant outcomes,” said Jaishankar, adding that both sides also underlined their commitments to “creating secure and resilient global supply chains. We welcomed the renewed vigour with which both sides are now engaging on trade issues to fully expedite the complementarities between us”, he said, a reference to the India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement.
He said the peaceful development of the Indo-Pacific region has been a focus of the bilateral relationship.
“Our two countries believe that it should be shaped in a participative and collaborative manner. We reiterated our commitment to continue to work together for peace, stability and prosperity of all countries in the region. This would include a rules-based international order, freedom of navigation in international waters, promoting connectivity as well as respecting territorial integrity and sovereignty of all States,” he added.
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