INDIA NEWS
Feb 16-29, 2024 - Vol 4, Issue 14
NEWS FROM INDIA
India’s EAM Dr Jaishankar attends 7th Indian Ocean Conference Perth, February 9 (Australia India News Newsdesk) The External Affairs Minister of India (EAM), Dr S Jaishankar, received a warm welcome upon his arrival in Perth to participate in the 7th Indian Ocean Conference held from February 9-10. The conference aimed to address key issues concerning the Indian Ocean region. During his visit, Dr Jaishankar held significant meetings, including a discussion with FM Senator Penny Wong of Australia, focusing on the comprehensive
strategic partnership between India and Australia. The discussions also touched upon matters related to the IndoPacific, the situation in West Asia, and other regional and global topics of mutual interest.
conference, Dr Jaishankar engaged in a morning discussion with FM Senator Penny Wong, emphasizing India-Australia ties, Indian Ocean architecture, and shared interests in the IndoPacific region.
Joined by esteemed colleagues including President Ranil Wickremesinghe and FM Vivian Balakrishnan, Dr Jaishankar participated in the conference's opening ceremony, welcoming ministerial counterparts from across the Indian Ocean region.
Dr Jaishankar also paid a visit to Sailani Avenue in Perth, named after Nain Singh Sailani, an Indian-origin soldier honored in Australia. During his visit, he met with veterans and Indian community leaders, acknowledging their contributions to strengthening
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the friendship between Australia and India. Further strengthening regional ties, Dr Jaishankar met with FM Maneesh Gobin of Mauritius, highlighting positive progress in their bilateral relationship and expressing optimism for deeper cooperation. In a bid to intensify ties with Western Australia, Dr Jaishankar engaged with Parliamentarians Zaneta Mascarenhas, Varun Ghosh, and Dr. Jagadish Krishnan of Australia, appreciating their insights and perspectives.
Addressing the Indian community in Perth, Dr Jaishankar expressed gratitude for their efforts in bolstering the friendship between Australia and India, recognizing their vital role in fostering stronger bonds. Additionally, Dr Jaishankar met with Premier Roger Cook of Western Australia, acknowledging his support for hosting the 7th Indian Ocean Conference and his commitment to building robust India-Australia ties, further enhancing bilateral relations between the two nations.
India’s relationship with Australia is growing, deepening, says Jaishankar Perth, February 10 (Australia India News Newsdesk) Addressing members of the Indian diaspora in Perth recently, India’s External Affairs Minister said that it was apt that a conference like the Indian Ocean Conference was taking place in Australia. “I think, very important that such a conference should be taking place in Australia, not to invest in Australia and not to invest. And it's important because what it has done in many ways is it has focused the attention of the entire Indian Ocean region on the partnership with Australia and in turn it has actually given a certain perspective in Australia towards the Indian Ocean,” he
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said. He underscored the point that as a foreign minister since he took over the office, it was his fifth visit to Australia in five years. “It is actually reflective of this great change that is taking place in front of your eyes in our relationship. And this change started ten years ago, a decade ago, when Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in India. And he personally initiated an outreach to Australia,” he said. “So, the first message I bring to you today is that the relationship is doing great. There's an enormous commitment from India, starting with the Prime Minister, to build on this partnership. And it is something
which we regard today. Yesterday, when I addressed the Indian Ocean Conference, I said I regard this as the most consequential relationship we have in the Indian Ocean, “ Dr Jaishankar said. ‘We provide great support to each other. So, this is today very much a relationship that is growing, that is deepening, that is getting new content, new substance, and a higher profile. I would say every passing month, every passing year” he further said. “And it isn't only in Australia, today this is a very different India that we are talking about. This India is also developing a global footprint and that footprint has actually brought us much deeper
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into this broader region itself. So if one looks at Fiji or you look at Papua New Guinea, in fact look at all the Pacific Islands which are close to Australia, there is again today an Indian presence, an Indian project, an Indian contribution, an Indian collaboration in some form. And last year when we had a meeting of Pacific Islands, Prime Minister Modi committed that in key areas like health and education and space, we will be doing very much more with the Pacific Islands. And I mention that to you because when we do more in this larger region, that also contributes, that is part of our partnership with Australia as well. So I can very confidently predict that a country
which today is such a strong partner of Australia, where other than Prime Minister, Foreign Ministers, or Defence Ministers may take it on, in pretty much every domain today that level of contact is growing. But having said that, I know to the Indian community, your minds are always focused, he further said. About the changes taking place in India since Narendra Modi took over the reins of the country, Dr Jaishankar said, “this country, India, is in a position to regularly feed a population the entire size of Europe and North America. It is able to give free healthcare to more people than those who Continued on next page...
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