ARCHIVED MEDIA RELEASE
PA/10/2002 5 June 2002
Australia-India senior officials meeting
The Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Dr Ashton Calvert, will tomorrow (6 June) lead the Australian delegation at the annual Australia-India Senior Officials' Meeting in New Delhi.
This long-established dialogue involves senior officials from DFAT and the Indian MEA. It was last held in Canberra in April 2001, and before that in New Delhi in February 2000.
This year's dialogue follows on from the successful visit to India in April by Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Alexander Downer, for the second round of the Australia-India Foreign Ministers' Framework Dialogue.
The Ministerial and Senior Officials talks head the growing list of formal dialogues between the two countries, including first-track and second-track strategic dialogues.
Tomorrow's dialogue will address a range of bilateral, global and regional issues, including the current tensions between India and Pakistan. Dr Calvert's two-day visit will also involve a number of bilateral calls and interactions with Indian business leaders, commentators and strategic analysts.