Canberra: India and Australia on Tuesday agreed on a landmark framework for security cooperation across the spectrum in defence, cyber and maritime security and combating terrorism, including the threats posed by foreign fighters joining extremists groups.
At the summit talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the first Indian PM to visit Australia in 28 years, and his counterpart Tony Abbott, the two countries also decided to conclude a long-pending free-trade pact by the end of next year and an “early closure” of the civilian nuclear deal that will facilitate uranium imports to India.
Significantly, Mr Modi made a reference to the need for expanding security cooperation and deepening international partnerships in the region in his speech to a joint session of Australian Parliament after the talks.
“But, what we do need is to work together and with others to create environment and culture that promotes the currency of co-existence and cooperation; in which all nations, small and big, abide by international law and norms, even when they have bitter disputes,” Mr Modi said.
“We should collaborate more on maintaining maritime security. We should work together on the seas and collaborate in international forums. And, we should work for a universal respect for international law and global norms,” the Prime Minister said in comments interpreted as a veiled reference to China.
Both India and Australia have reservations over China’s growing military assertions in maritime disputes with its neighbours.
The framework cooperation also came as Chinese President Xi Jinping left here for Tasmania where he was joined by Mr Abbott.
In a joint statement issued at the end of Modi’s visit, the two countries committed themselves to working together to combat terrorism and transnational crimes.
The two Prime Ministers agreed that the existing Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism would be renamed to cover other transnational crimes, including on-going cooperation on illegal migration. T
hey noted the conclusion of a new Framework For Security Cooperation to guide closer collaboration across the security spectrum, including in defence, counter-terrorism, cyber policy, disarmament and non-proliferation and maritime security.
The framework demonstrates the unshakeable resolve of the two countries in combating and defeating terrorism, including the threat posed by foreign fighters joining extremist groups.
Noting that terrorism has become a major threat for all, Mr Modi suggested a comprehensive global strategy and a resolve to isolate “those who harbour terrorists”.
After the summit talks at the Prime Minister’s office, just two months after Mr Abbott’s maiden visit to India, the two countries signed five agreements on social security, transfer of sentenced prisoners, combating narcotics trade, tourism, and arts and culture.
“This is a natural partnership, arising from our shared values and interests, and our strategic maritime locations,” Mr Modi said at a joint press conference with Mr Abbott.
“Security and defence are important and growing areas of the new India-Australia partnership - for advancing regional peace and stability, and combating terrorism and trans-national crimes,” he said.
The security framework, finalised hours before the talks, lays out an extensive “action plan” including annual prime ministerial summits and maritime military exercises, besides cooperation in counter-terrorism, border control and close consultations on regional and international institutions.
Modi said the two sides also “agreed on seeking early closure on the civil nuclear agreement, which will give Australia a chance to participate in one of the most secure and safe nuclear energy programme in the world.”
Modi and Abbott had summit talks in Delhi last month during which India and Australia sealed a civil nuclear deal.
Australia has about 40 per cent of the world’s uranium reserves and exports nearly 7,000 tonnes of yellow cake annually. India and Australia had commenced negotiations for the sale of uranium in early 2012.
Addressing the Parliament, Abbott said, “If all goes well, Australia will export uranium to India under suitable safeguards because cleaner energy is one of the most important contributions that Australia can make to wider world.”
Abbott also said that “By the end of the next year we will have a Free Trade deal with what is potentially the world’s largest market.”
While talking about India-Australia ties, Modi said: “India and Australia have a great economic synergy.” “There are huge opportunities for partnership in every area we can think of - agriculture, agro-processing, resources, energy, finance, infrastructure, education, and science and technology,” Modi said.
Modi emphasised that the economic climate in India has changed. “I believe it will be a lot easier to convert opportunities into concrete outcomes.”
He also announced that India will organise a ‘Make in India’ show in Australia in 2015 while Australia would hold a business week in India in January next year.
“Prime Minister Abbott and I discussed what we should do to impart real momentum to our economic partnership. Reconstituting the CEO Forum is an important step.
“We have agreed to speed up negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. I also asked for easier access for Indian business to the Australian market and quicker investment approvals,” Modi said.
The two-way trade stands at a relatively modest USD 15 billion a year compared with USD 150 billion for Australia’s two-way trade with China.
Modi said India and Australia were members of several institutions “critical” to the region and the world and both the countries should coordinate more closely on global fora.
