New Delhi, Mar 11 (Representative) The First Annual Summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian PM Anthony Albanese led to five Outcomes, including a Joint Statement. The others includes an Audiovisual Co-production Agreement between the two countries; an MoU on Cooperation in Sports; Terms of Reference: India-Australia Solar Taskforce; and a Letter of Intent between India’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation for Furthering Cooperation in Innovation. The Joint Statement, while welcoming the entry into force of the landmark Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) in December last year, the Prime Ministers of India and Australia on Friday looked forward to swift progress in negotiations and for an early conclusion of an ambitious Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), to realise the full potential of the bilateral economic relationship. The statement, issued after the first Annual Summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian PM Anthony Albanese, also focused on defence cooperation, climate and people to people ties. It said that the Prime Ministers agreed that the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was beneficial not only for both countries but also for an open, inclusive, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific, where the rules-based international order is upheld. They highlighted the significance of robust bilateral trade and investment flows through diversified, transparent, open, secure, inclusive and predictable global supply chains. In this regard, they welcomed initiatives to strengthen regional cooperation through the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) between India, Australia and Japan, and decided to further strengthen cooperation in these areas, it said. Under the sub-head of climate, it said the Prime Ministers welcomed continued progress under the India?Australia Energy Dialogue.
The Prime Ministers noted the existing collaboration between the two countries on solar photovoltaic (PV) and hydrogen, two technologies that are critical to Australia and India’s energy transition goals. The Prime Ministers welcomed the appointment of Co-Chairs on both sides to the India-Australia Solar Taskforce, which will advise on opportunities to accelerate solar PV deployment and enhance supply chains. The Prime Ministers also acknowledged the proposal to establish an India-Australia Hydrogen Task Force. They also “…agreed to work towards elevating our bilateral cooperation to a Renewable Energy Partnership, noting that cooperative initiatives will reduce renewable energy costs and support the energy transition for Australia and India.” In defence, the two leaders welcomed sustained progress under the defence and security pillar of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and discussed ways to further enhance it. The Prime Ministers recognised the growing complexity and frequency of defence exercises and exchanges between the two countries and acknowledged the increasing interoperability between the respective forces through implementation of the India-Australia Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement. They welcomed the arrangements between the two countries for enhancing Maritime Domain Awareness in the Indian Ocean region, increased defence information sharing and consolidation of mutual access that continue to deepen operational defence cooperation. They agreed that, as a practical step, India and Australia may continue to explore conduct of aircraft deployments from each other’s territories to build operational familiarity and enhance maritime domain awareness. In recognition of India and Australia’s robust maritime partnership, the Prime Ministers welcomed that Australia would host Exercise MALABAR in 2023 for the first time. The Prime Ministers agreed this would bolster interoperability between participating navies. The Prime Ministers underscored the importance of regular exchanges between defence forces in building interoperability. The Prime Ministers welcomed the commencement of the inaugural landmark General Rawat India-Australia Young Officer Defence Exchange Programme from 1 March 2023. The 15-day programme, with participation of 15 officers from each of the two countries, is currently underway in India.
Australia looks forward to hosting Indian Armed Forces officers in 2024. The Prime Ministers highlighted the significance of defence industry, research and material cooperation between the two countries and acknowledged the progress achieved under the Joint Working Group to enhance cooperation in these areas. The Prime Ministers strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and emphasised the need for strengthened international cooperation to combat terrorism in a comprehensive and sustained manner, and to combat all those who encourage, support and finance terrorism or provide sanctuary to terrorists and terror groups, whatever their motivation may be. The Prime Ministers renewed their commitment to supporting an open, inclusive, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific where sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected. They reiterated the importance of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. The Prime Ministers underlined the importance of being able to exercise rights and freedoms in all seas and oceans consistent with international law, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), including freedom of navigation and overflight. They reiterated the importance of adherence to international law, particularly UNCLOS, to meet challenges to the maritime rules-based order, including in the South China Sea. On Ukraine, it said: “The Prime Ministers expressed concern about the conflict and humanitarian situation in Ukraine, reiterating the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a peaceful resolution to the conflict. They reiterated that the conflict was causing immense human suffering, exacerbating existing fragilities in the global economic system.”