Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has described the Indian-Australian community as “the heart” of the relationship between the two countries, as Australia and India continue expanding cooperation across trade, energy, defence and critical minerals.
Speaking during the 17th Australia-India Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue in New Delhi, Wong said nearly one million Australians now trace their heritage to India, reflecting the growing depth of people-to-people ties between the two nations.
“The heart of our partnership is our people, and around a million Australians trace their heritage to India,” Wong said.
“They are such an important community for us, such an important part of our multicultural fabric.”
Wong said Australia also welcomed “many students, tourists and visitors” from India, adding that the bilateral relationship had become “closer and more consequential than ever.”
“This is the world’s largest democracy, the fastest growing large economy, you’re a global power, and you’re central to the reshaping of the region,” she told India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
The talks in New Delhi focused heavily on economic security, energy markets, defence cooperation and regional stability following the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting earlier in the day.
Wong said disruption in global energy markets was affecting both economies, while Australia and India continued to strengthen energy security cooperation.
“We’re important energy partners to one another,” Wong said.
“You supply us with refined fuel that helps power our mining, energy, agricultural sectors. We provide you with coal and iron ore, which help underpin the Make in India program.”
Jaishankar said discussions were continuing to deepen the economic relationship beyond the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) towards a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).
He also pointed to growing collaboration in uranium supplies, critical minerals, maritime cooperation, defence exercises, space cooperation and sport.
“Our defence exchange and exercises again have been taking place, maritime cooperation has been the centrepiece of that,” Jaishankar said.
Wong said Australia valued the “strategic trust” underpinning the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries and remained committed to being “a reliable partner” to India.
The foreign minister also confirmed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was looking forward to welcoming Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Australia in the near future.
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