BY News Bureau
Melbourne: Senior officials’ talks between India and Australia in Canberra have reaffirmed the strong partnership between the two countries. The Australian side was led by Foreign Secretary Dennis Richardson while India’s side was led by Secretary (South) Sanjay Singh. The talks covered a range of bilateral and multilateral issues.
Mr. Sanjay Singh, Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India visited Canberra for the Senior Officials Talks which were held on the forenoon of September 21, 2012. The Australian delegation was led by Mr. Dennis Richardson, the Secretary in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Government of Australia.
During the talks the two delegations discussed bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and global issues.
Relations between the two countries in the areas of trade and investment, energy and resources, education, science and technology and defence and security were amongst the topics on which there was an exchange of views between the two delegations. The talks explored various proposals and ideas to give concrete content to the Strategic Partnership established between the two countries. Both sides agreed that while bilateral relations had expanded rapidly in recent years, there was considerable potential for a transformation of the relationship through efforts of the two sides.
The two delegations also discussed cooperation between India and Australia in multilateral fora including the G-20 and the East Asia Summit. It was agreed to strengthen cooperation in multilateral fora in areas of mutual interest. The Australian delegation also briefed the Indian delegation on the Oz Fest – a cultural festival which will be held in India from October to December, 2012.
