Context

On March 21, Prime Ministers of India and Australia held their Virtual Summit and took stock of the pace of implementing the Australia-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

India-Australia relations

• Since we elevated our relationship in 2020, we have advanced practical actions on cyber and critical technologies, maritime affairs, defence ties, economic and business links and Quadrilateral cooperation.
• The two Prime Ministers announced a range of tangible and practical initiatives spanning the breadth of our shared economic, strategic, and regional interests.

Areas of cooperation

• Energy partnership: Both countries are working on a new and renewable energy partnership, to support the development of technologies such as green hydrogen and ultra-low cost solar.
• We are also supporting research and investment to unlock Australian critical minerals for Indian advanced manufacturing.
• We will boost collaboration on innovation, science and entrepreneurship, to scale up ideas that address global challenges.
• Space sector: We are also increasing investments into our countries’ rapidly growing space sectors.
• We are establishing the Australia-India Centre of Excellence for Critical and Emerging Technology Policy — and a Consulate-General — in Bengaluru.
• Australians value highly the Indian diaspora and student contributions to its community — whether economic, social, or cultural.
• Australia and India are also working to ensure a peaceful and stable region.
• Both countries are committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
• In our defence relationship, there is an enhancement in information sharing and operational cooperation.
• Such arrangements also help continue delivering quality humanitarian support to the region, seen recently when India helped Australia’s Pacific family, Tonga and Kiribati.

Conclusion

These investments in strategic, economic, and community ties show what we can achieve when two multicultural democracies join in a spirit of trust and understanding.

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