New Delhi,
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defence Minister Peter Dutton met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi following the 2+2 dialogue between the two countries.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a tweet that leaders’ guidance and commitment to India-Australia relations has lent significant momentum to bilateral ties.
“Call on PM Narendra modi by Australian FM Marise Payne and Defence Minister Peter Dutton_MP. Our Leaders’ guidance and commitment to the India-Australia relations has lent significant momentum to our ties,” he said.
India and Australia held their first 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in New Delhi on Saturday. The agenda included bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest.
Payne told the media after the dialogue that India and Australia share a strong interest in ensuring that Afghanistan never again becomes a safe haven for breeding, training of terrorists.
“We’re also very focused on seeking safe passage for citizens, foreign nationals, visa holders of other countries who seek to leave Afghanistan,” she said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that Afghanistan was understandably a major subject of discussion.
“We agreed that the international community must be united in its approach guided by the UN Security Council resolution 2593.”
He also underlined that India-Australia relations have experienced unprecedented momentum in the last seven years.
“There have been frequent engagements despite the pandemic in a range of areas. New mechanisms have come up reflecting new energies,” he said.
Was happy to meet Ministers @MarisePayne and @PeterDutton_MP. The 1st Ministerial 2+2 Dialogue between India and Australia was very productive. I thank my friend @ScottMorrisonMP for his focus on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between our nations. pic.twitter.com/mewWFcqoUj
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 11, 2021
Australia & India are longstanding partners. In our meeting with 🇮🇳 Prime Minister @narendramodi, we discussed our nations' shared commitment to a rules-based international order, an open, inclusive & resilient #IndoPacific & strengthening the 🇦🇺🇮🇳 economic relationship. pic.twitter.com/cuRFEM80ww
— Marise Payne (@MarisePayne) September 11, 2021
