Relevance: GS-2: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Key Phrases: Australia-India Deep histories, maitri, mateship. cyber and critical technologies, maritime affairs, defence ties, economic and business links and Quadrilateral cooperation, Technology and research, Focus on students, Focus on Indo-Pacific, bilateral trade.

Why in News?

• Deepening investments in Australia-India strategic, economic, and community ties highlight their stronger relationship. Australia is celebrating India’s 75 years of Independence by making the largest single investment in our bilateral relationship.

Deep histories

• Australia-India are natural partners because both are each ancient and modern countries and cultures, vibrant and full of energy and optimism.
• Australia recognises the depth and diversity of India’s magnificent culture. Australia know the importance of connection to history.
• Like India, Australia’s story stretches back tens of thousands of years. Australia’s Indigenous peoples are custodians of the oldest continuing civilisation in the world: which is why the Australian government was delighted to return 29 culturally significant artefacts to the people of India this month.
• Even Australian words for friendship have a similar ring: India says maitri, Australians say mateship. Both stand for respect, understanding and equality. Friends looking out for each other.
• That is the warm friendship shared between our Prime Ministers, The Hon Shri Narendra Modi and The Hon Scott Morrison MP.
• On March 21, the two Prime Ministers held their Virtual Summit and took stock of the remarkable pace we are implementing the Australia-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. To drive closer cooperation and regularly review relations, the Prime Ministers also established an Annual Summit mechanism.
• Since Australia-India elevated their relationship in 2020, they have advanced practical actions on cyber and critical technologies, maritime affairs, defence ties, economic and business links and Quadrilateral cooperation.
• The Virtual Summit marked another milestone as our Prime Ministers announced a range of tangible and practical initiatives spanning the breadth of our shared economic, strategic, and regional interests.
• These initiatives are an investment into the promise and potential of our nations. They address the most pressing challenges and opportunities of our time.
• Together, they are harnessing the technology, the talent, and the trading spirit of our people to deliver resilience, prosperity, and security.

Technology and research

• Australia-India are working on a new and renewable energy partnership, to support the development of technologies such as green hydrogen and ultra-low cost solar. Both are also supporting research and investment to unlock Australian critical minerals for Indian advanced manufacturing.
• They will boost collaboration on innovation, science and entrepreneurship, to scale up ideas that address global challenges.
• They are also increasing investments into each other countries’ rapidly growing space sectors.
• And both are establishing the Australia-India Centre of Excellence for Critical and Emerging Technology Policy — and a Consulate-General — in Bengaluru.
• Both governments know that resilience relies on strong economies.
• Australia-India have made significant inroads on negotiations on a deal that will open new two-way trade and investment opportunities, build more secure supply chains, and unlock our complementary economies, increasing the flow of goods, services and people.

Focus on students

• Australia are investing in India’s talented young people through our new Future Skills Initiative between education and training providers and industry.
• This complements the Australian government’s significant new Maitri scholarships and fellowships, giving Indian students and researchers the chance to experience Australia’s world class education system.
• Australians value highly the Indian diaspora and student contributions to our community — whether economic, social, or cultural.
• Prime Minister Morrison announced a dedicated Centre for Australia-India Relations to deepen that friendship between our communities.

Focus on Indo-Pacific

• Australia and India are also working to ensure a peaceful and stable region.
• They are each committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific. We are advancing our cooperation all the way from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Islands.
• Last month Australia announced initiatives to enhance Australia’s engagement in the Northeast Indian Ocean in support of India’s natural leadership.
• In our defence relationship, both are enhancing information sharing and operational cooperation.
• Such arrangements also help both continue delivering quality humanitarian support to the region, seen recently when India helped Australia’s Pacific family, Tonga and Kiribati.
• Finally, Australia was saddened at the tragic loss of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat last year. Both governments are recognising his contributions by announcing an Australia-India Young Defence Officer Exchange Program named in his honour.

Way forward:

• These investments in strategic, economic, and community ties show what both can achieve when two multicultural democracies join in a spirit of trust and understanding.
• Australia knows that in India we have a natural partner who will help build a region where every nation can prosper.
• Both are closer than ever and our transformational commitments and collaborations will continue to bring us together. They are realising the potential of our maitri and mateship.
• Australia and India are important trading partners, and share a strong desire to further enhance their bilateral trade relationship.
• A free trade agreement with Australia would be a boon for Indian businesses, farmers and workers, creating new jobs and opportunities with one of the world's largest and fastest developing economies.
• CECA is a potential game-changer in opening opportunities for both Australia and India. It is also an important piece of our post-COVID economic recovery.
• Australia and India regards the CECA as “important to India and Australia delivering their vision of a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific”. Both sides support economic openness and upholding the rules-based trading system and “recognise that strong economies provide the opportunities its citizens seek”.

Source: The Hindu

Mains Question:

Q. “Natural partnership is important to India and Australia for delivering their vision of a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific”. Critically analyse the statement.