With ties between the two countries on an upward trajectory, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday hailed Australia as "an early and vigorous supporter" of India's Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and said the relations between the two countries have shifted gears and moved into a higher orbit.
Making this observation in an online address to the Australia-India Leadership Dialogue 2022, he also said a trade of over $20 billion and investments at the $25-billion level stand to rapidly expand by the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement concluded in April 2022.
Jaishankar said Australia is a major educational destination for Indian students, who number in excess of 100,000, while the Indian community, estimated at 7.2 lakh, is a source of strength for both societies. "But it is really in the realm of politics and strategy that the
transformation has been the sharpest. Much of the growing convergence has been driven by concerns about the region's stability, prosperity and security," Jaishankar said.
He further said the deficit in global goods has been sought to be addressed by India and Australia working together bilaterally as well as in larger formats.
"This reflects their shared concerns about respect for international law and a rules-based order. The two countries may have long interacted in ASEAN-led forums, Commonwealth, Indian Ocean Rim Association, etc.
But stronger leadership and more open exchanges have brought out mutual benefits of closer cooperation and coordination. "Australia has been an early and vigorous supporter of India's Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI). In fact, the big change has been realization that a stronger bilateral relationship today allows the two nations to contribute much more effectively at a regional and at a global level," he added. The IPOI builds upon the 'Security and Growth for All in the Region'
(SAGAR) initiative announced by Prime Minister Modi in 2015. The Australia-India Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative Partnership (AIIPOIP) in particular is focussed on maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific to support an open, inclusive, resilient, prosperous and rules-based maritime order.
Jaishankar also talked about a new intensity in the interactions between the two countries from the leadership level downwards and referred to a number of agreements in recent months.
These include pacts ranging from maritime collaboration, defence science exchanges, mutual logistics support to cooperation in cyber-enabled critical technology, critical and strategic minerals, water resources management, vocational education and training, as well as public administration and governance.