Amid the growing influence of China in regional strategic issues, India and Australia on Wednesday stressed the need for a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.
India and Australia share warm and multi-faceted bilateral relations based on shared democratic values and pluralism.
Advertisement
The two countries underlined the growing convergence between them on a number of strategic perspectives at the second 2+2 dialogue held in Canberra. India was represented by Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra while the Australian side included Frances Adamson, Secretary in the Department of Foreign Affairs and trade, and Greg Moriarty, Secretary in the Department of Defence.
The External Affairs Ministry said all aspects of bilateral relations with a focus on strategic and defence relations were reviewed.
The Indian delegation also met the Director General of the Office of National Assessment and senior officials of the Department of Defence.
India and Australia, along with the US and Japan, are also part of the ‘Quadrilateral Security Dialogue’, an informal strategic dialogue mechanism formed in the wake of China’s aggressive posturing, particularly in matters pertaining to the South China Sea.
