‘India is a key partner in Indo-Pacific region’

[Hindustani78]

Updated: September 1, 2015 01:53 IST
India is a key partner in Indo-Pacific region, says Aus Defence Minister Kevin Andrews - The Hindu

“The ships of our navies regularly engage in port visits and short-term passage exercises, to further our relationship.” Picture shows HMAS Newcastle at Kochi in January 2013

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott during his visit to Australia last year.

India and Australia share an interest in the freedom of navigation in the Indian Ocean region.
Building on the personal relationship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Prime Minister Tony Abbott, I am pleased to visit India between 1-3 September, for the first time as Australia’s Defence Minister.

India is the emerging democratic superpower of Asia. It is, therefore, sensible that the relationship between India and Australia be developed and strengthened.

India and Australia have a long history of shared security interests, both within and beyond the Indo-Pacific region. This illustrates the potential for further growing and deepening our relations.
India and Australia share a history. Our servicemen have served and fought alongside each other in a variety of conflicts. In the First World War, Indian and Australian servicemen fought together on the beaches of Gallipoli, in the deserts of Mesopotamia and West Asia, and in the fields of France. In the Second World War, our armed forces served alongside each other in the Mediterranean, West Asian, North African, and Pacific theatres, most notably during the siege of Tobruk, and the Burma campaign to defend India from falling to Japan.

Shared history, shared values

This shared history, coupled with our shared democratic values and a strong interest in a secure Indo-Pacific region, provides us with a firm foundation upon which we can confidently pursue future engagement activities in support of our joint interests. Our economic relationship is also strong — and there is currently work under way between our respective governments to further grow it over time. Indian investment in Australia was AU$10.9 billion in 2014, and Australian investment in India was AU$9.8 billion. And our annual trade is worth nearly AU$16 billion — but as we know, trade relies on open trade routes.

To strengthen bilateral trade and investment, our Prime Ministers agreed to conclude a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement by the end of the year. Australia and India are natural economic partners and a mutually beneficial, high quality agreement will help unlock the potential of the already strong Australia-India relationship.

We both border the Indian Ocean and have a shared interest in the maintenance of freedom of navigation and trade. In fact, the world economy is fast becoming reliant upon Indian Ocean trade as its bulk cargo grows. Australia recognises India’s critical role in supporting the security, stability and prosperity of the Indian Ocean region and the stability of a wider, rules-based global order. This is why Australia views India as a key strategic partner — and there is scope for us to cooperate further on broader global issues. This intention was formally recognised during Prime Minister Modi’s November 2014 visit to Australia, where he and Prime Minister Abbott formalised a Framework for Security Cooperation, which will include work to facilitate greater defence interaction over time.

As two prominent Indian Ocean states, India and Australia are cooperating closely in the region. Building cooperation helps to provide for a more secure maritime environment. By 2030, the Indo-Pacific region is expected to account for 21 of the top 25 sea and air trade routes; around two-thirds of global oil shipments; and one third of the world’s bulk cargo movements. So improving security will be crucial to protecting our prosperity. In this setting, it is not surprising that, being Indian Ocean states, defence engagement between Australia and India focuses on joint naval cooperation.

The ships of our navies regularly engage in port visits — and short-term passage exercises — to further our relationship. HMAS Newcastle visited India in April this year to mark the centenary of ANZAC celebrations and to conduct a passage exercise. Perhaps most significantly, our navies will conduct our first Bilateral Maritime Exercise — Exercise AUSINDEX — later this month. The exercise will take place in the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet exercise area off the coast of Visakhapatnam. This Exercise marks a new and important stage in the development of our defence relationship. I am keen to see greater opportunities for our forces to work together on exercises. But the potential for greater cooperation between our defence organisations is not confined to the naval sphere.

We are also slowly seeking to build our bilateral Air Force relationship based on our use of common platforms such as the Hawk, C-17, C-130 and P8 maritime patrol aircraft. At Army Staff Talks last year, both sides agreed in principle to explore opportunities for future exercises. People-to-people links through personnel and training exchanges have proved vital to building familiarity between our defence forces. While the distance between both nations is great, I hope we can identify appropriate opportunities in the near future.

Global economic centre

Australia is a country with many great strengths. Like India, we live within a region that will continue to undergo tremendous change, and we must adapt.

Economic growth is transforming the Indo-Pacific region, which is becoming the global strategic and economic centre of gravity. Reports predict that by 2050, half of the world’s top 20 economies will be in the Indo-Pacific. Some also predict that India, China, Indonesia and Japan will be in the top five economies in the world with the U.S. India’s own economic growth will be a key driver of energy demand.

The shift of strategic weight to the Indo-Pacific is driving economic, energy and trade interdependence across the region, as states’ economic wellbeing and prosperity increasingly depend on free and open trade. Greater interdependence between states is encouraging, as it reduces the likelihood of destabilising actions or conflicts. But interdependence will not remove these risks altogether.

As major and emerging powers seek to advance their own interests, they will cooperate in some areas, but compete in other. Tensions in the Indo-Pacific persist, and in some cases, are becoming more acute. Territorial disputes continue to risk regional stability and create uncertainty. Australia has a legitimate interest in the maintenance of peace and stability, respect for international law, unimpeded trade and freedom of navigation and overflight, especially in the South China Sea.

The imperative to use peaceful means to resolve regional disputes is particularly salient in light of regional military modernisation. Across the Indo-Pacific, states are modernising their forces in line with their growing economic prosperity. In the decades ahead, many regional states will grow more powerful militarily as they acquire more capable and technologically advanced platforms.

Military modernisation is a natural part of any state’s development. In fact, it can be seen as a largely positive development, as modernising states are more able to manage security challenges they face. It also represents a great opportunity for Australia to work with more capable partners, as we are with India, in support of shared interests in regional security and stability.

Yet, accelerating military modernisation also has the potential to increase strategic competition as states seek military advantages over their neighbours. Australia continues to encourage all countries to be open about their defence policies and transparent in their long-term strategic intentions to build trust and minimise the potential for miscalculation.

With the increasingly uncertain strategic outlook as its context, the Australian Government will shortly release a new Defence White Paper. The White Paper will present a clear, long-term plan for Australia’s defence over the next two decades, one that aligns strategy, capability and resources. The White Paper will set out the Government’s direction that defence is to play a more active role in supporting regional security and Australia’s interests in a more rules-based global order. But if we want to live in a more rules-based global order, we need to invest in the power-based component of that order.

Australia recognises that it cannot achieve its defence objectives alone. In the words of Prime Minister Abbott, “This is the time to turn the warm friendship between Australia and India, the long history that Australia and India have together, into something that will be meaningful, more meaningful for us and significant for the wider world.” This is our challenge and it is our task.

(Kevin Andrews is Australia’s Defence Minister.)

Last Updated: Tuesday, September 1, 2015 - 14:52
Australia looking to boost defence cooperation with India: Andrews | Zee News


Melbourne: Describing India as an emerging superpower, Australian Defence Minister Kevin Andrews said he will explore a range of new ideas to set the direction of bilateral defence cooperation during his visit to the country.


"India is the emerging democratic super power of Asia. It is therefore sensible that the relationship between India and Australia be developed and strengthened," he said.

"I will visit India to advance Australia-India defence cooperation. As part of this visit I will meet with my counterpart (Manohar) Parrikar. I will also call on Prime Minister (Narendra Modi)," Andrews said ahead of his three-day visit to India starting September 1.

Andrews said that the visit which was his first as the Defence Minister, was a part of building on the personal relationship with India as set by the two leaders Modi and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott last year.

"Our shared history, coupled with our shared democratic values and a strong interest in a secure Indo-Pacific region, provides us with a firm foundation upon which we can confidently pursue future engagement activities in support of our joint interests.

"I look forward to identifying a range of new ideas to increase our existing defence cooperation at this year's talks," he said.

As the first Defence Ministers' Meeting following the release of the Framework for Security Cooperation by Abbott and Modi during the Indian leader's State Visit to?Australia, this year's talks will be particularly important, Andrews said.

"This dialogue provides an opportunity for Parrikar and I to set the direction of our bilateral defence engagement in line with the expectations of the Framework," he said.

"Our inaugural bilateral maritime exercise with the Indian Navy, AUSINDEX, is scheduled to occur later this month and will include participation by various naval and air force platforms. It is a strong signal of both countries? commitment to building defence relations."

"I will also address one of India's preeminent think tanks, the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, on our relationship with India and?Australia's defence policies more broadly," he said.

Quoting Abbott that 'it was the time to turn the warm friendship, the long history of the two nations into something meaningful', Andrew said, "This is our challenge and it is our task".

PTI

 

[Hindustani78]

DSGMC President Manjit Singh G.K and General Secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa presenting a sword to Australian Defence Minister Kevin Andrews during his visit to Gurudwara Bangla Sahib in New Delhi.

 

[Hindustani78]

Aus opposes 'militarisation' in S China Sea, says India's role 'critical'
New Delhi, Sep 2, 2015, (PTI)

In a veiled attack on China, Australian Defence Minister Kevin Andrews today strongly opposed the use of "intimidation and aggression" in the disputed South China Sea and said India's role was critical in stability of Indian Ocean region and wider global order.

The visiting Australian Minister, who called for deeper defence ties with "key strategic partner" India, also pitched for a quadrilateral naval exercise with Japan and the US as was done in 2007.

Underlining that Australia recognises India's "critical role" in supporting the security, stability and prosperity of the Indian Ocean region and the stability of a wider, rules-based global order, Andrews said tensions in the Indo-Pacific persist, and in some cases are becoming more acute.

"Territorial disputes continue to risk regional stability and create uncertainty. One issue that has attracted a lot of international attention in recent months is the South China Sea. Australia has a legitimate interest in the maintenance of peace and stability, respect for international law, unimpeded trade and freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea," he said, delivering a lecture at Defence Ministry- run think tank IDSA.
Stressing that all States have a right under international law to freedom of overflight in international airspace, he said all countries should respect this.

"Australia strongly opposes the use of intimidation, aggression or coercion to advance any country's claims or to unilaterally alter the status quo. We are particularly concerned about the possible militarisation of features in the South China Sea," he said.

Andrews said Australia encourages practical implementation of commitments under the Declaration on Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea and urged China and the ASEAN member countries to make early progress on a substantive Code of Conduct for the South China Sea.

Noting that both India and Australia border the Indian Ocean, he said they have a shared interest in the maintenance of freedom of navigation and trade.

"In fact, the world economy is fast becoming reliant upon Indian Ocean trade as its bulk cargo grows. Australia recognises India's critical role in supporting the security, stability and prosperity of the Indian Ocean region and the stability of a wider, rules-based global order.

"This is why Australia views India as a key strategic partner – and there is scope for us to cooperate further on broader global issues," he said.

Asked if he would be in favour of a quadrilateral naval exercise as done in 2007, he said, "If indeed quadrilateral opportunities arise in the future, we would be having an inclination to be part of those exercises".

Terming such "relationship" as important, Andrews said this was something that he would discuss with his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar.

Underlining that India and Australia share history, democratic values and an interest in prosperity and security of the region, Andrews said there was potential for future.

"We will both benefit from a more rules-based global order, which will drive our economic growth. Importantly, we see these opportunities to work more closely in defence to protect the order and encourage that prosperity for both our nations and the broader region, in the future.

"We, therefore, see enormous potential in our bilateral defence relationships, and so look forward to working with India towards achieving these goals," he said.

The visiting Australian Defence Minister welcomed the US military's re-balance to Asia Pacific but made it clear that he does not see China as a threat to Australia.

"At the same time, we believe that best way to maintain the integrity of the global trading system is to abide by international rules based system. So we have said, publicly and privately to China, that is what Australia believes in," he said.

Taking an apparent dig at China, he said turning a reef into a military airport is not in anyway enhancing the security and peace of that region.

China is said to be building an island at least 3,000 m long on Fiery Cross Reef that could be the site for its first airstrip in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

Noting that the greatest danger is miscalculation rather than a nation deliberately taking aggressive action, he said China should make its strategic intent clear.

He said Australia will resist any aggression in the South China Sea that threatens global trade routes and added that every country in the region should do the same.

Talking about the maiden upcoming bilateral naval exercise, Andrews said it marks a new and important stage in the development of our defence relationship.

"I am keen to see greater opportunities for our forces to work together on exercises such as this in the coming years. But the potential for greater cooperation between our Defence organisations is not confined to the naval sphere.

"We are also slowly seeking to build our bilateral Air Force relationship based on our use of common platforms such as the Hawk, C-17, C-130 and P8 maritime patrol aircraft," he said.

He said that reports predict that by 2050, half of the world's top 20 economies will be in the Indo-Pacific.

"Some also predict that India, China, Indonesia and Japan will be in the top five economies in the world alongside the US. India's own economic growth will be a key driver of energy demand," he said.

He added that while the region is seeing dynamic economic growth, the United States will remain the pre-eminent global power out to 2035, perhaps beyond.

"The China-United States relationship will be a particularly important dynamic in shaping the region.... While some tension is inevitable, both China and the United States have a clear interest in preserving regional stability and security, not the least of course because of their close economic integration," he said.

 

[Hindustani78]

A delegation led by the Australian Minister of Defence, Mr. Kevin Andrews meeting the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju, to discuss the bilateral cooperation in the field of security, in New Delhi on September 02, 2015.

 

[Hindustani78]

Australian Defence Minister Kevin Andrews after inspecting a Tri-Service Guard of Honour at South Block, in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photo: V. Sudershan
Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement top Australian priority with India - The Hindu
"There is scope for greater cooperation on global issues as India is a strategic partner," says Kevin Andrews.
Concluding a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) with India is the Australian Government’s top bilateral priority said Australian Defence Minister Kevin Andrews. His India visit comes close on the heels of the first bilateral naval exercise between India and Australia later this month.

“Australia is committed to fulfilling the objective of Prime Ministers Tony Abbott and Narendra Modi to conclude a CECA by the end of 2015. Australia and India are natural economic partners and a mutually beneficial, high quality agreement will help unlock the potential of the already strong Australia-India relationship,” Mr. Andrews said speaking at the Institute of Defence and Security Analysis on Wednesday.

On its part, India has called on Australia to speed up implementation of the nuclear deal signed in September last year. This was conveyed to Mr. Andrews by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in their meeting on Tuesday. The deal has been delayed pending approval by the Australian Parliament. India is keen to import Uranium for its nuclear reactors from Australia, which holds close to 40 percent of the known global reserves.

Stating that Australia recognises India’s “critical role” in the stability of the Indian Ocean region Mr. Andrew said there is scope for greater cooperation on global issues as India is a “strategic partner”. “Australia recognises India’s critical role in supporting the security, stability and prosperity of the Indian Ocean region and the stability of a wider, rulesbased global order.”

India and Australia will hold conduct naval exercises, AUSINDEX, off Visakhapatnam coast on the East coast in which about 400 Australian Naval personnel are expected to participate. Australia is sending an anti-submarine reconnaissance aircraft, a Collins-class submarine, a tanker, and a frigate for the exercise. The exercises come at a time of increased Chinese forays into the Indian Ocean which is a common concern for both countries.

With China clearly in sight, Mr. Andrew called for greater cooperation in the Indian Ocean region through various multilateral fora and expressed interest in quadrilateral exercises along with the US and Japan which in the past had generated a strong Chinese reaction.

In line with that, Australia has invited India to participate in the Pitch Black 16 multilateral Air Force exercises as also the Australian Army Skill at Arms Meeting, a soldiering competition, and the biennial PIRAP JABIRU peacekeeping Exercise. India is, however, yet respond to the Pitch Black exercise.

Observing that both countries have a shared interest in the maintenance of freedom of navigation and trade, Mr. Andrews called on China to be clear of its intentions in the region.

“It is important to recognise that all states have a right under international law to freedom of overflight in international airspace. All countries should respect this,” he said in a reference to the Air Defence Identification Zone imposed by China in the East China Sea and added “China has to be more clear on what its strategic intentions are”.

 

[SURYA-1]

When are Australian containers of Uranium reaching India ?? All talk talk no work.

 

[Hindustani78]

When are Australian containers of Uranium reaching India ?? All talk talk no work.

Canadian Uranium

April 17, 2015 8:36 am
What are the basics of the Modi-Harper uranium supply deal?
It is worth $ 350 million. Canada’s largest uranium producer, Cameco Corp, will supply 3,220 metric tonnes of uranium concentrate for Indian nuclear power reactors over five years, beginning this year. Cameco Corp, based in Saskatchewan in the Canadian prairie, produces, according to the company’s web site, about 16 per cent of the world’s uranium.

When are Australian containers of Uranium reaching India ?? All talk talk no work.

"Whether it takes a year, two years, that's really a matter for the market to determine," Abbot said earlier referring to actual uranium shipments, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

 

[Hindustani78]

Neighbours sponsoring terrorism: India tells Australia | Zee News


New Delhi: In an obvious reference to Pakistan, India on Wednesday conveyed to Australia that some neighbouring countries were sponsoring terrorism and favoured global efforts to curb terror financing.


Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju discussed with visiting Australian Defence Minister Kevin Andrews intelligence-sharing, combating international terrorism, cyber security and better working relations for border and maritime security.

Rijiju raised the issue of sponsored-terrorism by some neighbouring countries and global efforts to curtail terror funding, an official release said.

The Australian Minister discussed the situation in the Middle-East and Afghanistan and expressed his concern. They also agreed on enhanced co-operation in areas of mutual interest of both the countries.

They also touched upon the issues of stability of Asia Pacific region, security of sea lanes of communication.

The two leaders discussed the follow-up of the financial action task force in Brisbane, Australia, in June 2015 and addressed deficiencies in implementation of the recommendations with regard to terror financing.

Andrews and Rijiju underscored the growing depth of the Australia-India strategic partnership and building on convergence of interests, shared values and common democratic institutions in today's meeting.

The Australian Defence Minister is attending the Second Australia-India Defence Minister's dialogue here. The Australian delegation included the High Commissioner and Defence Attaches of Australia in India.

Both the countries agreed to further enhance bilateral assistance in the areas of mutual cooperation and extend the cooperation to newer areas.

PTI

 

[Hindustani78]

The Australian Minister of Defence, Mr. Kevin Andrews meeting the Union Minister for Defence, Shri Manohar Parrikar, in New Delhi on September 02, 2015.

The Australian Minister of Defence, Mr. Kevin Andrews with the Union Minister for Defence, Shri Manohar Parrikar, at the delegation level talks on Defence Co-Operation between India and Australia, in New Delhi on September 02, 2015.

 

[Hindustani78]

Australia calls for deeper counter-terrorism cooperation with India | Zee News

New Delhi: Asserting that no country should export militancy, Australia Thursday called for deeper counter-terrorism cooperation with India, including intelligence sharing to fight the growing threat of online radicalism, as it sought to ramp up bilateral defence ties.

Australia has also offered India its Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle, used by the Australian army in Afghanistan, to counter the threat of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) besides radio signal jamming devices for the same.

Visiting Australian Defence Minister Kevin Andrews, who has pitched for greater defence cooperation in Indian Ocean region, said he held detailed discussions with the Indian leadership including his counterpart Manohar Parrikar, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.

Talking about the issue of terrorism, he said, "As a matter of principle, we would say that no country should export terrorism to another country around the world...The export of terrorism is something that we are opposed to... Terrorists have to be dealt with at its roots, at its grounds rather than try and deal with it when it reaches a country".

He was replying to a question on Pakistan-sponsored terror attacks in India. Andrews, however, made it clear that he was speaking on a matter of principle and not on any "domestic issue" of India.

Talking to a select group of journalists here, Andrews said online radicalisation was a growing threat.

Underlying that Australia faces a real threat from fighters returning from Iraq and Syria, he said there is growing threat of online radicalisation, an issue which he discussed with Doval.

"Youngsters who get radicalised online through the computers while sitting in their bedrooms will not necessarily belong to any group," he said.

Citing a recent such case in Australia, Andrews said, "This is a growing threat that all countries are facing. India is facing it as well as Australia".

Asked what Australia proposes to do with India's cooperation on this front, he said both the countries have a common cause and common concern, and added that the two nations will help each other to find ways to deal with it.

A delegation of Australian anti-terrorism experts had visited India recently to firm up concrete structures of cooperation.

Andrews said over a period of time, India and Australia will see more of bilateral navy, air force and army exercises.

"We see more cooperation in things like cyber, potential intelligence sharing, counter terrorism (in future)," he said.

PTI

 

[Hindustani78]

India emerges a key player in Asia-Pacific power games
Sep 05, 2015, IANS

Two very important statements from Kevin Andrews, Australia's foreign minister, and Kevin Rudd, the country's former prime minister, have opened up the scenario of a newly developing strategic balance in the Indian Ocean and the Asia Pacific regions.
While Andrews has rued Australia's previous decision of walking out from Malabar, a multilateral naval military exercise, because of Chinese demarche, Rudd has earnestly called for India's inclusion in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) grouping.

Both the statements indicate two very important things.

The first is India's growing importance in the region, of course with active US support. The second is, no doubt, a considerable decrease of Chinese influence in the region. This was not so even a year ago and very few observers could anticipate it. But the defeat of Mahinda Rajapaksa, in first the Sri Lankan presidential election and then in the parliamentary election, has suddenly altered the scenario. In the power game of the region, Rajapaksa was undoubtedly China's most strategically important ally as Sri Lanka is situated just on the threshold of the sea lanes of the Indian Ocean which ensures China's energy supplies by connecting it with the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

As the US has shifted the focus of its foreign policy to the Asia Pacific, the Indian Ocean has become doubly important for China.

The timing of the two Australian leaders' statement is important. It has taken place within a very short time of Rajapaksa's defeat. Moreover, by the middle of this month, Australia and India will undertake a joint naval exercise called AUSINDEX off the coast of Visakhapatnam in the Bay of Bengal with a pronounced emphasis on anti-submarine warfare. The two sides will put into use submarines, anti-submarine reconnaissance aircraft, frigates and tankers. The exercise will be so elaborate as to include off-shore as well as on-shore operations.

This is the first bilateral military exercise between India and Australia, which sits on the confluence of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The message is unmistakable. The countries of the region are now prepared to militarily collaborate with each other in thwarting China's String of Pearls theory - the building up of military bases like Gwadar in Pakistan, Kyaukpyu deep sea port and the Coco islands in Myanmar, Chittagong in Bangladesh and Hambantota and Colombo in Sri Lanka for maintaining a hegemonistic presence in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. This was the reason behind China's issuing a demarche to the US, Japan, Australia, India and Singapore after the Exercise Malabar in the Bay of Bengal in 2007.

So far as Exercise Malabar is concerned, China's reactions bear marks of self- contradiction. It has taken exception whenever the exercise was multilateral and held in the Bay of Bengal. In response to China's sensitivities, India and the US kept the exercise within a bilateral parameter and involved other nations like Japan only when the matter moved out of the Bay of Bengal. However, both the US and India have now decided to upgrade the exercise and this is likely to raise further uneasiness in Beijing. But the scale of military hardware - like guided-missile destroyers, guided-missile frigates, nuclear powered attack submarines and the like - that both the US and India have been parading since 2011 can only be described as a response to the gigantic march and modernization that the Chinese navy has undergone in recent years.

Kevin Rudd's description of the Indian economy being worth $2 trillion and his open advocacy for increased Indian presence in the Asia-Pacific market has wider connotations. The import is not merely economic in nature but should be better viewed as an attempt to chalk out an US-India-Australia-Japan axis for overhauling the strategic map in this part of the world. Perhaps the US will never forget the discomfiture it had suffered when China had nearly elbowed Washington out of the East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur in 2005. The development had hurt the US so much that the then deputy secretary of state, Richard Armitage, had somberly admitted that his country was not at all doing well in its race with China for influence over the Asia Pacific region.

In the days to come Japan's role may assume critical importance as its relation with China has almost touched the nadir. So long Beijing enjoyed so much influence that it could even line up the regional press against Tokyo. A broad section of observers even suspect Chinese hands behind the sudden spurt of Japanese war crime stories in a section of east and southeast Asian media.

It is to be seen how Japan plays its role in this changing security scenario. Whether Beijing likes it or not, India's ascent seems inevitable as a regional player.

 

[Hindustani78]

Cabinet
22-June, 2017 18:07 IST
Cabinet approves MoU on cooperation in the textiles, clothing and fashion sectors between India and Australia

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the textiles, clothing and fashion sectors between the Ministry of Textiles and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia.


The MoU will facilitate cooperation in relation to matters within the textiles and fashion sectors that may be of mutual interest and benefit to the participants. The participants will jointly identify appropriate measures to connect the Australian and Indian textile and fashion sectors; promote collaboration and international engagement between those sectors; nurture the skills and talents within those sectors; promote economic opportunities and encourage professional engagement, training, skill development and public exhibition of products derived from these sectors in the two countries. However, Intellectual Property Rights of either side will stand protected.


The weavers including ancillary workers will be benefited from activities to be taken under MOU.


For overall development of handloom sector, the initiative aims to increase the handloom fabric production by way of establishing market linkages, to encourage innovation in designs and techniques for improvement in design capability, diversification of product lines and value addition, better access to domestic and export markets so that weavers are able to get continuous employment and improve their living standards.


Background


Ministry of Textiles, Government of India is responsible for holistic development of this sector by implementing various innovations in handloom sector. It has been an endeavour of the Ministry to popularize the handloom products among younger generation. The Australian fashion designers, producing garments using Indian woven and other textiles of Indian for India and Australian market have evinced interest to work with stakeholders in India which includes cooperation with textiles, handloom sector with a view to provide state of art, designing of textiles and handloom products and market them in India as well as international market. The Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (Government of Australia) had proposed to sign an MOU with Ministry of Textiles in this regard.



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[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Home Affairs
06-October, 2017 16:01 IST
First Meeting of India-Australia Joint Steering Committee held

The First Meeting of India-Australia Joint Steering Committee was held here today. Shri TVSN Prasad, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs and Mr. Stephen Bouwhuis, First Assistant Secretary, International and Auscheck Division, Criminal Justice Group, Attorney-General's Department led the respective delegations.

Today’s meeting is a follow-up to the Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime exchanged between the two sides during the visit of Australian Prime Minister Mr. Malcolm Turnbull to New Delhi in April this year and his talks with the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

During the Joint Steering Committee meeting the two sides discussed scope for cooperation in counter-terrorism and checking extremism and radicalization besides steps to check illegal financial transactions and counterfeiting and cybercrimes. Issues related to human trafficking and people smuggling, combating illegal drug trafficking and sharing information between law enforcement agencies were also discussed.

The two sides agreed to pursue further the agenda for cooperation in specific areas with meetings of operational Joint Working Groups involving concerned agencies.

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[Hindustani78]

The Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Shri T.V.S.N. Prasad and Mr. Stephen Bouwhuis, First Assistant Secretary, International and Auscheck Division, Criminal Justice Group, Attorney-General's Department leading the respective delegations during the First Meeting of India-Australia Joint Steering Committee, in New Delhi on October 06, 2017.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Women and Child Development
14-August, 2018 16:07 IST
Australia recommences its adoption programme with India

The Government of Australia has decided to recommence the Adoption Programme with India, as per Hague Convention on Inter-Country Adoption. The adoptions from India had earlier been put on hold by the Government of Australia eight years ago, on the reported charges of trafficking of children for Inter-country adoption by some of the recognized Indian placement agencies (the Adoption agencies mandated to place children in Inter-country adoption at that point of time).

The regulation of Inter-country adoptions have been made strict by the Government of India with the enactment of Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 and notification of Adoption Regulations, 2017. The Ministry of Women & Child Development along with Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) have been constantly engaging with Australian Government for recommencement of the Adoption Programme. The recommencement of the adoption programmes will now enable large number of prospective adoptive parents including those of Indian origin settled in Australia in fulfilling their desire of adopting a child from India.



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