NEW DELHI: India and Australia on Monday committed themselves to deepen the bilateral defence and security partnership while Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that cooperation in education and research is a key aspect of the ties between the two countries.
The two countries also signed six memoranda of understanding (MoUs) following delegation-level talks headed by Modi and visiting Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull here.
“The Prime Ministers committed to deepening the bilateral defence and security partnership,” a joint statement issued following the talks said.
“They welcomed the significant progress achieved through the bilateral Framework for Security Cooperation agreed in 2014,” it stated.
According to the statement, as fellow Indian Ocean nations, the two Prime Ministers also underscored the joint commitment of Australia and India to enhance regional cooperation in promoting maritime safety and security and welcomed the important role of the bilateral White Shipping Agreement.
“Both countries remain strongly committed to the breadth of their defence ties, including through ongoing annual staff talks for army, navy and air forces,” it stated.
It also said that “the two Prime Ministers reiterated their strong commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and stressed that there can be no justification for acts of terror on any grounds whatsoever”.
“They asserted that the fight against terrorists, terror organisations and networks should also identify, hold accountable and take strong measures against all those who encourage, support and finance terrorism, provide sanctuary to terrorists and terror groups, and falsely extol their virtues,” the statement.
In this regard, the two Prime Ministers also welcomed the signing of an MoU on fighting international terrorism and transnational organised crime.
The other five MoUs signed following on Monday’s talks are on cooperation in civil aviation security, environment, climate and wildlife, sports, health and medicine, and earth observation and satellite navigation.
Addressing the media jointly with Turnbull, Prime Minister Modi said that cooperation in the fields of education and research was “one of the most important aspects” of India-Australia ties. — IANS
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
