The India-Australia Quad partnership is strategically aligned in their shared objective of establishing an open and free Indo-Pacific region, according to Australian High Commissioner to India, Philip Green. Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Green highlighted the dynamic nature of the Indo-Pacific region and emphasized the Quad nations’ commitment to supporting free trade and sovereignty without external interference.
“Australia and India are Quad partners, who are strategically aligned. We want Indo-Pacific open and free. There are great dynamics in our regions but some things hold us back. We want the region where states have free trade and what they want in their sovereignty in their own way, which is free from state, can make choices that suit the peoples of each of their countries,” he stated.
Green mentioned that the Quad countries have agreed to collaborate on maritime domain security and the elimination of cervical cancer through vaccination efforts in the region. “We agreed on new work in maritime domain security; we all understand what is happening in our maritime domain, and secondly, we work harder and try to remove cervical cancer via vaccines. Australian PM Anthony Albasene visited India and met Prime Minister Modi and we talked about good things that include many things,” he added.
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The High Commissioner also addressed the bilateral relationship between India and Australia, noting three key factors that have strengthened their strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific. “There are three underlined drivers between India and Australia. We know that Australia and India are strategic partners and friends working together for the betterment of Indo-Pacific relations. Australia and India have strong economies. Australia produces many things that India needs for its next phase of economic growth. And the third thing driving us is that we called it ‘Human breach.’ There are many Indian-origin people who live in Australia and contribute to the many 4 per cent Indian population in Australia and they are contributing towards our national life as well and it will help the bilateral relationship between India and Australia,” he said.
He noted the increase in trade between the two countries and mentioned ongoing efforts to finalize the second phase of the free trade agreement, known as the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), while exploring further opportunities for growth. “Between India and Australia, trade from both sides using agreements frequently goes well. On the Indian side, in the first five months of this year, Indian exports of agriculture goods towards Australia and India’s exports of iron and steel are up by a quarter, and India’s exports towards Australia have gone up to 20 per cent. We are working well but we have to think about how it will grow much in the future by creating free trade between India and Australia through CECA,” Green explained.
He also expressed optimism about building better opportunities for businesses, creating jobs, and making commodities more affordable in both countries. “We think that we can build even better opportunities for businesses, creating more jobs and cheaper commodities to consume in India and Australia. We are keen to resolve the second phase of the free trade agreement between India and Australia; we called it CECA,” the envoy added.
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