External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar paid an official visit to Sydney, Australia on 18 February 2023.
2. EAM met Australian Foreign Minister H.E. Ms. Penny Wong. They discussed a wide range of bilateral cooperation issues and exchanged views on the Indo-Pacific and other multilateral matters. EAM looked forward to Minister Wong’s visit to India in early-March for G-20 meetings and the Raisina Dialogue.
3. EAM called on Australian Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Anthony Albanese to discuss various matters of mutual interest, including forthcoming high-level exchanges.
4. EAM also held discussions with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles. They discussed furthering bilateral cooperation in the defence sector, including maritime security.
5. EAM delivered a keynote address at the inaugural Raisina@Sydney conference that was jointly organised by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) of India and the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI). He also joined a panel discussion with the Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen.
6. India and Australia elevated bilateral ties and entered into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in June 2020. EAM’s visit was in continuation of the regular high-level engagements between the two sides. EAM had previously visited Melbourne in February 2022, and Sydney and Canberra in October 2022.
New Delhi
February 21, 2023
