For both Australia and India, China is the biggest trading partner.
As well China is our “biggest security anxiety”, said Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, making the opening remarks at the 2+2 dialogue on Monday.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said this is a partnership which is “consequential for us, but it is crucial for our region.”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said there is consensus on both sides that a strong India-Australia partnership will augur well.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said it also has larger implications for the region and a “lot of other countries look to us and to our relationship in many ways as a factor of stability and security.”
Mr. Marles said, “We are two countries which share history, we share democratic traditions, we share rule of law, freedom of speech... Well our strategic alignment is greater than it has ever been.” He also held bilateral talks with Mr. Singh and Mr. Jaishankar earlier in the day.
Talking of the milestones, Mr. Jaishankar referred to the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) which entered into force last December, and said they are seeing its economic implications unfold this year in terms of trade increase.
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