India and Australia on Monday called for early cessation of hostilities in Ukraine and steps to prevent such events in the Indo-Pacific region. Both the countries also reviewed the aggressive stance of China in the region and continuing tension along the border in Ladakh.
These issues came for discussion at the virtual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison. Modi said peace and tranquility at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) was essential for normalisation of ties with China.
This observation by India came days ahead of the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi later this week to New Delhi. It will be the first visit by any Chinese Minister since trouble erupted at the LAC in eastern Ladakh nearly two years back.
Modi and Morrison discussed the situation in Ukraine. Morrison reportedly expressed his understanding of India’s position on the crisis in Ukraine.
The two Prime Ministers also felt that the conflict should not be a reason for diverting attention from the Indo-Pacific.
On March 3, the leaders of the Quad countries held a virtual meeting to discuss the Ukraine crisis. Unlike its Quad partners — the US, Japan and Australia — India has not condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and has been maintaining that the crisis should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.
Both the leaders stressed on the fact that international orders stand on the UN Charter on the rule of law and respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states, Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla said later.
Morrison said Russia needed to be made accountable for loss of lives in Ukraine in the ongoing war, and it must be ensured that such terrible events never occur in the Indo-Pacific region.
In his opening remarks, Morrison also referred to a recent meeting of the leaders of the Quad grouping on the Ukraine crisis and said it provided an opportunity to discuss the “implications and consequences” of the developments in Europe for the Indo-Pacific.
Modi said, “We have good cooperation going on in Quad as well. This collaboration of ours reflects our commitment to free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. The success of the Quad is critical to regional and global stability.”
Modi said the ties with Australia witnessed remarkable progress in the last few years and that there has been close cooperation between the two sides in trade and investment, defence and security, education and innovation, and science and technology.
The Prime Minister also said he was happy over the establishment of a mechanism of the annual summit between the two countries as it ensures a structural system for regular review of the ties.
Focusing on main points of the relations between the two countries, Modi said the conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) will be important for economic revival and economic security for both sides.
In his remarks, Morrison referred to the “distressing” and terriblesituation in Europe which he said must “never happen in our own region”.
“The tragic loss of lives underlines the importance, of course, of holding Russia to account. The cooperation between like-minded liberal democracies is key to an open, inclusive, resilient and prosperousIndo-Pacific and I welcome your leadership within the Quad to keepingits focus on those important issues,” Morrison said. He said the events that are taking place in Ukraine should neveroccur in the Indo-Pacific. “Our region is facing increasing change and much pressure and I think the Quad leaders call recently which gave us the opportunity to discuss Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine, but also gave us the opportunity to discuss the implications and consequences of that terrible event for our own region in the Indo-Pacific and the coercion and the issues that we face here,” Morrison said. It was in apparent reference to the growing Chinese aggressive stance in the Indo-Pacific region.
Giving details of the summit later, the Foreign Secretary said both the sides were concerned over the ongoing conflict and humanitarian situation in Ukraine. Modi and Morrison emphasised the need for cessation of hostilities and violence in Ukraine, Shringla said. Shringla also said India and Australia were keen to finalise the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement as it will unlocknew opportunities to expand bilateral trade and investment ties. The Foreign Secretary said the two leaders exchanged views on regionaland global issues of mutual interest including shared concerns over terrorism. Morrison presented his perspective on China and its actions in the region and he spoke in particular about the South China Sea. Modi referred to the LAC in Ladakh and emphasised that peace and tranquility in the border area was an essential prerequisite for normalisation of relations with China, the Foreign Secretary said.
On Myanmar, he said India stressed that its relationship with it is historical and based on people to people ties. Both sides spoke about supporting the ASEAN initiative in Myanmar and the International community must also come together for humanitarian assistance to Myanmar, Shringla said.
The two leaders agreed for stepping up cooperation between India’s National Investment and Infrastructure Fund and Australia’s Pension and Sovereign Fund. It is important because of our interest in attracting Australian investments in our infrastructure development, Shringla said. He also said India will offer the same tax benefits for Australia’s Pension and Sovereign Fund here as is given in Australia. “We’re willing to match the tax benefits that Australia gives to its Sovereign and Pension Funds. Once they invest in India, they will get similar benefits,” he said.