Today, I welcomed India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar to Australia for the annual Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue.
This is Minister Jaishankar’s second visit to Australia this year, demonstrating the importance both Australia and India place on our partnership.
Australia and India are Comprehensive Strategic Partners, we are Quad partners and most fundamentally, we share the Indo-Pacific region.
We have a shared interest and a shared ambition in a stable and prosperous region where sovereignty is respected.
For Australia, our partnership with India is a critical part of shaping the region we want.
At the Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue, we discussed accelerating and deepening economic ties, including through our Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement.
We also discussed strengthening our people to people ties and education links, reinforcing our defence and security cooperation and enhancing our climate change and new clean energy engagement, including through the Quad.
We agreed to expand our diplomatic footprints, with Australia recommitting to open a Consulate-General in Bengaluru, and India planning an additional consulate in Australia.
I look forward to our continued engagement as we build and sustain our partnership and region.