Jaishankar Welcomes Australian FM Penny Wong: Bilateral Talks Amid Growing Ties

In a post on X, he said, "Welcome my friend FM @SenatorWong to India. Look forward to our discussions."

Earlier today, the Australian Foreign Minister visited Humayun's Tomb and viewed Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters at the Humayun's Tomb Museum. Presented in collaboration with the National Museum of Australia and the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), the exhibition brings one of Australia's most iconic First Nations stories to India.

Minister Wong was welcomed by Kiran Nadar, Founder of KNMA, Dr Jilda Andrews, Deputy Director, First Nations at the National Museum of Australia, and the visiting First Nations Cultural Ambassadors, who greeted her with the Indigenous cultural song 'Inma'. During her tour, the Minister also interacted with the cultural ambassadors and representatives from KNMA while learning more about the significance of the exhibition.

Wong arrived in Delhi on Wednesday evening.

The Australian Foreign Minister is here for the 16th Australia-India Foreign Ministers' Framework Dialogue and her 26th meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

During her visit, discussions would take place on cooperation across cyber and strategic technology, trade, maritime security, defence, sport, and people-to-people ties.

In her official statement ahead of her visit, Wong said, "Australia and India have never been closer and our partnership never more consequential - it is crucial for us and crucial for the region in a sharper and more competitive world."

She highlighted that her visit builds on the high momentum of the series of engagements between India and Australia and "reflects the ongoing work of the Albanese Government to deepen our relationships and strengthen our resilience."

Wong noted that the cooperation under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership reflects the deepening alignment and shared vision for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

"I look forward to discussions with my counterpart and friend, Minister for External Affairs Dr S. Jaishankar, to set the course for an even more ambitious, future-focused agenda, as our partnership enters its next phase. We will look to enhance our cooperation across cyber and strategic technology, trade, maritime security, defence, sport, and people-to-people ties," she stated.

"Together, Australia and India are working bilaterally, through the Quad, and through multilateral institutions to advance our collective security and prosperity," Wong further noted.

The high-level visit comes shortly after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Australia in October. He held delegation-level talks with Wong and also met Australia's Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, during his visit, hailing the fillip to the bilateral relationship.

- ANI