ARCHIVED MEDIA RELEASE
PA/5/2002 24 April 2002
Statement by the Hon. Alexander Downer, MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Australia and India strengthen strategic dialogue
Today (23 April) my Indian counterpart Jaswant Singh and I held the second round of the Australia-India Foreign Ministers' Framework Dialogue. A particular focus of our talks was the need to further strengthen the strategic aspects of our relationship.
Building on the bilateral security dialogue which was held for the first time last year, both countries are now working towards holding direct military-military talks towards the end of 2002.
This intensified cooperation is a recognition of the mutual benefits to be gained from exchanging information and perspectives on regional and global security issues.
During my three-day visit to India, I held separate meetings with Prime Minister A B Vajpayee, Home Affairs Minister L K Advani, Defence Minister George Fernandes, Culture and Tourism Minister Jagmohan, and Commerce and Industry Minister Murasoli Maran.
The subjects of these discussions included our shared interests in the war against terrorism, developments in Afghanistan and the Indian Ocean region, and Commonwealth issues, such as Zimbabwe, based on our joint membership of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG).
I also discussed with Indian Ministers our growing bilateral political relationship and our expanding trade, education and tourism links.
During my visit I addressed leading business figures from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), emphasising the benefits of doing business with Australia. Trade is a key growth area in Australia-India relations, with Australian exports to India growing by an impressive 32 percent over the past year.
Education and tourism links also continue to grow. In my meeting with the Culture and Tourism Minister we signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism, to enhance cooperation between our tourism industries.
I also witnessed the signing of an MOU on cultural heritage cooperation between AusHeritage, Australia's network of heritage practitioners, and the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH).
Australia places great value on its multifaceted relationship with India. My visit has confirmed that India shares our view that there are significant prospects for expanding our relations in the future, at both the official level and through people-to-people links. I am confident that in the years ahead we can achieve new levels of cooperation, bringing real benefits to both our countries and peoples.
For further information, please contact Rory Medcalf, First Secretary, on telephone 6888223, extn. 197