In an effort to further strengthen the bilateral ties between the two countries, India and Australia on Tuesday vowed here to deepen their economic and security partnership and stressed their shared commitment to a “free, open, inclusive and rules-based” Indo-Pacific region. China is flexing its muscles there leading to tension.
For both Australia and India, China is the biggest trading partner, and China is also the biggest security concern. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said this is a partnership which is “consequential for us, but it is crucial for our region”.
“China is doing what all great powers do, using its state power to advance its interests. It uses economic leverage over other countries in the Indo Pacific region to its advantage,” Wong said
“The Indo-Pacific region requires partnerships to ensure a free and open order and to ensure that it is not dominated by any power. That is the vision of a region that is grounded in sovereignty,” she said.
Addressing a press conference after participating in the India-Australia Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India is preparing for a meeting of Quad sometime next year.
The External Affairs Minister said the two leaders also discussed the situation in West Asia in detail. Asked about the Israel-Hamas conflict, Jaishankar talked about India’s position and said there are different aspects of the “very complex and challenging situation”.