External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, currently in Australian city of Perth to take part in a two-day conference on the Indian Ocean, held discussions with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong on various issues including the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership and on regional and global matters.
Both ministers took this opportunity to engage in talks to strengthen their bilateral relationship, enhancing cooperation in various domains, with a particular focus on matters related to the Indian Ocean region, Indo-Pacific related issues as both Australia and India are part of the "QUAD'. They explored collaborative efforts to address shared challenges and promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific and West Asia.
EAM Jaishankar on his Social Media, X account, posted "Delighted to meet FM @SenatorWong of Australia in Perth today as we gather for the 7th Indian Ocean Conference. Good exchange on our comprehensive strategic partnership and convergence on matters related to the Indian Ocean. Also discussed the Indo-Pacific situation in West Asia and other regional and global topics.”
During the inaugural session of the conference, Mr. Jaishankar will deliver a speech alongside Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Australian Foreign Minister Wong, and Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.
He on X, shared, "Pleased to join President @RW_UNP, FM @SenatorWong and FM @VivianBala at the opening of the 7th Indian Ocean Conference in Perth. Delighted to welcome ministerial colleagues from across the Indian Ocean."
'Indian Ocean Conference’
The 'Indian Ocean Conference' serves as a flagship consultative forum for countries in the region, organised annually by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in collaboration with the India Foundation. The Perth ‘Indian Ocean Conference, is the seventh edition of the conference, scheduled for February 9 and 10.
As per the Ministry of External Affairs statement released on Thursday in New Delhi before Jaishankar's departure for the Australian city, the event is being co-organized with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Australian government, in conjunction with Singapore's S Rajaratnam School of International Studies and the Perth-US Asia Centre.
The theme for the conference's seventh edition is "Towards a Stable and Sustainable Indian Ocean." The conference aims to gather delegations led by Ministers from more than 22 countries and senior officials from 16 countries and six multilateral organisations. Additionally, over 400 social and corporate leaders, policy practitioners, scholars, professionals, and media personnel from approximately 40 countries are expected to participate.
The Indian Ocean Conference, which debuted in Singapore in 2016, has been crucial to bring together countries and primary maritime partners of the region on a unified platform to discuss the possibilities of regional cooperation under the banner of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).
Photo: X @S. Jaishankar
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