India (Commonwealth Union)_Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese on the sidelines of the recent G-20 Conference in Bali. The two leaders discussed how to further solidify the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations, with an emphasis on expanding collaboration in the education and innovation sectors. PM Modi participated in the recent two-day G20 Summit that was held in Bali.
The Indian leader shared photos of the meeting on Twitter, and stated that he and PM Albanese also discussed expanding economic and marine cooperation. “Glad to meet PM Albanese. Discussed ways to further cement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with a focus on cooperation in education, innovation and other sectors. We also talked about increasing trade and maritime cooperation. @AlboMP,” the tweet read.
Owing to the cold relationship between Australia and China, India-Australia bilateral relations reached new heights in December 2020 with the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the signing of significant accords, including a landmark treaty for reciprocal access to military facilities. The two nations have also been instrumental in stabilizing the strategically vital Indo-Pacific area in the midst of China’s assertive behavior. According to the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, India is one of the most important commercial partners of Australia, with bilateral trade in products and services growing from USD 13.6 billion in 2007 to USD 24.3 billion in 2020.
Additionally, India and Australia have also explored an institutional relationship in the sectors of education, particularly regarding cooperation in higher education, vocational education, training, and capacity building. In addition to these areas, the two leaders also examined the progress made in the domains of defense, commerce, renewable energy, and interpersonal relations.
This initiative for enhanced collaboration follows the statistics of the Australian Immigration Authorities indicating that over half of the students from India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka who filed for an Australian Student visa were denied. The G20 Summit is a global strategic forum where the world’s leading developed and emerging economies meet. Indonesia took G20 leadership in 2022. For the upcoming G20 conference in 2023, India will assume the leadership.
