Australia seeks India's strategic partnership - Express India
New Delhi Australia has sought to emerge as a leader in the Asia-Pacific region with India
s help which may result in a change in the worlds geo-politics.
The relations between the two countries have been upgraded to that of Strategic Partnership in the joint statement and joint declaration signed by the visiting Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Michael Rudd and the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi.
Australia is also ambitious of striking a free trade agreement (FTA) with India on basis of a joint feasibility study to be released shortly and would purse similar FTAs with other major economies of the region including Japan, China and South Korea. Both the countries also agreed to cooperate in climate politics.
Rudd appreciated Indias role in G-20 finance ministers forum for bailing out the world economy. Addressing the Indian industry, he said that the US dollar should continue as a global reserve currency at least on a medium-term basis.
After signing of the pact with the US on civil nuclear cooperation, India is looking for supply of uranium from Australia. But Australia has a long-standing policy of not supplying uranium to countries that have not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NTP) which includes India.
However, Rudd is willing to make an exception. Addressing the annual Australia-India Roundtable co-hosted by Lowy Institute and Indian Council of World Affairs, Rudd said : I appreciate that there is one aspect of the energy relationship which remains unresolved. Australias long-standing position on the export of uranium to countries that are not party to the NTP. This is not a policy directed at India. It applies globally and it has since 1978 under different Australian governments. We have not sought to isolate India on critical nuclear policy concerns. In fact the reverse is true. Australia was an active supporter in the Nuclear Supplier Group of lifting the nuclear moratorium against India following the US-India nuclear deal. This reflected Australias appreciation of Indias non-proliferation record. The (Australian) government understands that India looks to the day when its ambitious civil nuclear energy program can include Australian uranium.
As an ardent student of Asian Studies, Rudd quoted profusely the first Prime Minister of India, Pt Jawaharlal Nehru about Indias role in Asia-Pacific region. He said that India was central to Asia-Pacific Community by 2020. Australia and India should be natural partners in the Asia-Pacific. The challenge of the Asia-Pacific is to manage the inevitable stresses and strains of shifting economic and strategic contours, he said and added that it was for this reason Australia strongly supports Indias participation in all key regional for a like East Asia Summit, ASEAN Regional Forum and membership of APEC.
He described Asia-Pacific region where the big power relationships most closely intersect the crucible where the relationships among the US, India, China, Japan and Russia are forged and the template for the emergence of US-China relationship and where the complementary and competitive interests of the major powers would need to be managed, harmonized and reconciled.
Describing Australia as a middle power committed to the principles of creative middle-power diplomacy, Rudd said that his country was spearheading efforts in the Pacific region to secure stability for small island states, including supporting the establishment of newly independent East Timor, stabilizing Solomon Islands
and pressing for an early return to democracy in Fiji.
He said that Australia has the 13th largest military budget worldwide, the fifth largest in Asia. It is among the top 10 military contributors in Afghanistan and the largest non-NATO contributor. Australian forces are servicing 13 countries around the world and is now fundamentally enmeshed in Asia. Australian defence forces are intensifying cooperation with over 50 activities last year including joint exercises and in particular maritime exercises.
Whether related to strategic change in East Asia; combating terrorism (including in Afghainstan); ensuring maritime security; acting on transnational crimes including people smuggling; or working together on new security challenges such as natural disasters and stopping the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction there is great scope for security cooperation between two countries to broaden further, he said
India is forging closer links with the US and leaving a larger footprint across the Indian Ocean. The Indian Navy is the fifth largest in the world. Globally, India is increasingly engaging in and exerting influence through multilateral system whether in the UN, G20, the East Asia Summit or beyond. By 2030, India is projected to overtake China as having the worlds largest population. Some forecast India will be the worlds largest economy by 2025.
On the economic front, India is now Australias fifth largest export market for goods and services and is rapidly moving to become the third largest export market. India is also the sixth largest market for Australias services such as information and communications technology, education, tourism, finance, mining, construction and software development. India is the fifth largest energy consumer and Australia intends to be a reliable, cost-competitive and long-term supplier of energy.
About 250,000 Indians live in Australia, 115,000 Indians visit Australia annually and 115,000 Indian students are studying in Australia.
Keeping in the view Indias potential, Rudd suggested a strategic partnership with India including economic, political, security and cultural spectrum. Australia and India launched a $ 100 million collaboration project on science and technology. Australia would help to revive the 13th century Buddhist learning centre Nalanda University. India and Australia are working together under five Action Plans in the areas of mines, coal, new and renewable energy, petroleum and natural gas and power
In August, this year Indias Petronet LNG signed a US $ 20 billion deal with Exxon-Mobil for new Gorgon project in Western Australia. Tata Group of India has decided to partner with Australian companies in fields as diverse as coated steel production, long-haul logistics and retail electronics. Australia is looking for Indias help in Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute and the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate Change.
New Delhi Australia has sought to emerge as a leader in the Asia-Pacific region with India
s help which may result in a change in the worlds geo-politics.
The relations between the two countries have been upgraded to that of Strategic Partnership in the joint statement and joint declaration signed by the visiting Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Michael Rudd and the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi.
Australia is also ambitious of striking a free trade agreement (FTA) with India on basis of a joint feasibility study to be released shortly and would purse similar FTAs with other major economies of the region including Japan, China and South Korea. Both the countries also agreed to cooperate in climate politics.
Rudd appreciated Indias role in G-20 finance ministers forum for bailing out the world economy. Addressing the Indian industry, he said that the US dollar should continue as a global reserve currency at least on a medium-term basis.
After signing of the pact with the US on civil nuclear cooperation, India is looking for supply of uranium from Australia. But Australia has a long-standing policy of not supplying uranium to countries that have not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NTP) which includes India.
However, Rudd is willing to make an exception. Addressing the annual Australia-India Roundtable co-hosted by Lowy Institute and Indian Council of World Affairs, Rudd said : I appreciate that there is one aspect of the energy relationship which remains unresolved. Australias long-standing position on the export of uranium to countries that are not party to the NTP. This is not a policy directed at India. It applies globally and it has since 1978 under different Australian governments. We have not sought to isolate India on critical nuclear policy concerns. In fact the reverse is true. Australia was an active supporter in the Nuclear Supplier Group of lifting the nuclear moratorium against India following the US-India nuclear deal. This reflected Australias appreciation of Indias non-proliferation record. The (Australian) government understands that India looks to the day when its ambitious civil nuclear energy program can include Australian uranium.
As an ardent student of Asian Studies, Rudd quoted profusely the first Prime Minister of India, Pt Jawaharlal Nehru about Indias role in Asia-Pacific region. He said that India was central to Asia-Pacific Community by 2020. Australia and India should be natural partners in the Asia-Pacific. The challenge of the Asia-Pacific is to manage the inevitable stresses and strains of shifting economic and strategic contours, he said and added that it was for this reason Australia strongly supports Indias participation in all key regional for a like East Asia Summit, ASEAN Regional Forum and membership of APEC.
He described Asia-Pacific region where the big power relationships most closely intersect the crucible where the relationships among the US, India, China, Japan and Russia are forged and the template for the emergence of US-China relationship and where the complementary and competitive interests of the major powers would need to be managed, harmonized and reconciled.
Describing Australia as a middle power committed to the principles of creative middle-power diplomacy, Rudd said that his country was spearheading efforts in the Pacific region to secure stability for small island states, including supporting the establishment of newly independent East Timor, stabilizing Solomon Islands
and pressing for an early return to democracy in Fiji.
He said that Australia has the 13th largest military budget worldwide, the fifth largest in Asia. It is among the top 10 military contributors in Afghanistan and the largest non-NATO contributor. Australian forces are servicing 13 countries around the world and is now fundamentally enmeshed in Asia. Australian defence forces are intensifying cooperation with over 50 activities last year including joint exercises and in particular maritime exercises.
Whether related to strategic change in East Asia; combating terrorism (including in Afghainstan); ensuring maritime security; acting on transnational crimes including people smuggling; or working together on new security challenges such as natural disasters and stopping the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction there is great scope for security cooperation between two countries to broaden further, he said
India is forging closer links with the US and leaving a larger footprint across the Indian Ocean. The Indian Navy is the fifth largest in the world. Globally, India is increasingly engaging in and exerting influence through multilateral system whether in the UN, G20, the East Asia Summit or beyond. By 2030, India is projected to overtake China as having the worlds largest population. Some forecast India will be the worlds largest economy by 2025.
On the economic front, India is now Australias fifth largest export market for goods and services and is rapidly moving to become the third largest export market. India is also the sixth largest market for Australias services such as information and communications technology, education, tourism, finance, mining, construction and software development. India is the fifth largest energy consumer and Australia intends to be a reliable, cost-competitive and long-term supplier of energy.
About 250,000 Indians live in Australia, 115,000 Indians visit Australia annually and 115,000 Indian students are studying in Australia.
Keeping in the view Indias potential, Rudd suggested a strategic partnership with India including economic, political, security and cultural spectrum. Australia and India launched a $ 100 million collaboration project on science and technology. Australia would help to revive the 13th century Buddhist learning centre Nalanda University. India and Australia are working together under five Action Plans in the areas of mines, coal, new and renewable energy, petroleum and natural gas and power
In August, this year Indias Petronet LNG signed a US $ 20 billion deal with Exxon-Mobil for new Gorgon project in Western Australia. Tata Group of India has decided to partner with Australian companies in fields as diverse as coated steel production, long-haul logistics and retail electronics. Australia is looking for Indias help in Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute and the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate Change.
