Addressing the Indian community at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasized the transformation of India-Australia relations while reflecting on the growth of the bilateral partnership between the two countries and attributed the progress to four key factors. sunday.
During his address, S Jaishankar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Australian government, global dynamics and the contribution of the Indian community were key factors for the growth of India-Australia relations.
Reflecting on the growth in ties between the two countries, S Jaishankar remarked that Australia would have been among India’s important partners a decade ago, but this has changed significantly.
“This is my fifth visit to Australia in the last three years… I first came to Australia when I was the Foreign Secretary. Yesterday, before boarding the flight, I launched a book in which he highlighted seven important Highlighting friendships was one of them. And I’m not sure if he had written the book 10 years ago because I’m trying to emphasize that in the past. How old is this relationship and why has it changed in a decade… There are four reasons, one is PM Modi, the other is Australia, the third is the world and the fourth reason is that this relationship has progressed so much,” the Foreign Minister said.
S Jaishankar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised a question on the development of India-Australia relations in 2014, when he became the Prime Minister. He said this investigation initiated a reassessment of the relationship, recognizing potential that was previously untapped.
S Jaishankar acknowledged the inherent ties between the two countries, citing shared language, culture and tradition as the fundamental elements.
He reiterated that the transformation in relations between the two countries was not done on “autopilot” but was driven by the efforts, leadership and ambition of both sides.
“I mentioned PM Modi for a special reason. After becoming Prime Minister, he asked me a question in 2014. He asked, why did our relations with Australia not develop? Despite there being so much natural trust, there is a language bond, Shared culture and tradition. I didn’t have an answer that day because I hadn’t considered it myself and even if I had, I probably wouldn’t have realized that at the end of the day, things don’t happen automatically. Effort, leadership and ambition. They require people, governments and leaders at both ends. So when I present to you the picture of such change, it did not happen when the India-Australia vehicle was on autopilot. Have worked on this, realized the value of these relationships and the great efforts made to build them,” the External Affairs Minister said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is on a five-day visit to Australia from November 3 to November 7, during which he will inaugurate the fourth Indian Consulate in Australia in Brisbane on November 4.
Earlier today, the External Affairs Minister arrived in Brisbane for his five-day visit to the Quad partner country.
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