Australia bets on education, green energy and critical minerals ahead of PM Modi visit
By Ayushi Agarwal, New Delhi, July 6
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Australia, Australian High Commissioner Philip Green on Monday said Canberra supports India's territorial integrity, and is looking to further strengthen cooperation with India in defence, education and other key sectors.
Speaking to ANI, Green identified three pillars of partnership and said, "Our relationship is impelled forward by the three areas of strategic alignment. Firstly, in the area of defence and security, secondly because our economies are so complementary... and third because there are now more than a million people of Indian origin in Australia."
He said that the two leaders may explore greater defence cooperation where the strategic interests of both countries converge.
"I'll leave it to the leaders to make the announcements... There's lots of areas where we can and will make progress on defence, but perhaps where it matters most is where Australia and India's strategic geography overlap. And that is in the Indian Ocean... I think that the leaders may well engage on how it is that we might work more together in that domain," he said.
The High Commissioner underlined how in the last five years India's exports to Australia have grown by 200 per cent, and that with the West Asia conflict in the backdrop, the two countries are also attentive to energy security.
"In the last five years.... India's exports to Australia have grown by 200%, five times faster than the rest of the world. About uranium, I'd put it in this frame off the back of the Gulf War crisis, all of us are thinking about the security of energy supplies. Between Australia and India, we already have a good flow, whether it's coal, diesel, aviation fuel, LNG. I think there'll be a conversation about how we maximise the benefits to our bilateral and to our people of the flow of energy."
He further noted that the education sector has been identified as one of the four priority areas for expanding bilateral cooperation, alongside agri and food, tourism, and the green energy supply chain.
Addressing the concerns over visa delays for Indian students, he urged applicants to submit complete applications to facilitate quicker processing and said Australia remains keen to attract Indian students.
"What is important for us is that we continue to get a good flow of high-quality Indian students who make a big contribution to our educational life," he added.
On the issue of Khalistani extremism, Green said Australia does not support the separatist movement and remains committed to India's territorial integrity.
"Australia has no truck with Khalistani separatist movement. We support an India of territorial integrity. We take seriously India's interests to ensure that India's diplomatic premises are secure and that a visit like this goes off without a hitch," he said.
He added that while peaceful protests are part of Australia's democratic framework, authorities expect Prime Minister Modi's visit to proceed smoothly.
"In Australia, protest, if it's peaceful, is part of our democracy. I expect that we'll have a very smooth visit and that Prime Minister Modi will enjoy his engagement in Australia," Green said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The 200% growth in exports is impressive. But I wonder if this is benefiting Indian small businesses or just big corporations. We need trade agreements that actually help our farmers and local manufacturers, not just uranium deals.
As an Australian married to an Indian, I'm thrilled to see this deepening relationship. My wife's family visits often, and the cultural exchange is amazing. The one million Indian-origin people here have enriched our society. Just wish visa processing for family visits was faster too!
Energy security is smart - with West Asia tensions, we need reliable partners. Australia's critical minerals and India's refining capacity are a perfect match. But what about climate commitments? Green energy shouldn't be just a talking point, we need concrete projects. 🌏
Education should be a priority - our students are talented but need affordable options. Australia's tuition is expensive, and many middle-class families struggle. I hope the talks lead to more scholarships and exchange programs, not just recruitment of Indian students for Australian universities.
I appreciate Australia's stance on Khalistan. It's important for democracies to respect each other's sovereignty. The Indian Ocean cooperation on defence makes strategic sense given China's increasing presence. Hopefully this visit will strengthen our quadrilateral partnership too. 🇮🇳🇦🇺
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.