India-Australia Virtual Summit- Relevance for UPSC Exam
- GS Paper 2: International Relations– Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
India-Australia Virtual Summit in news
- Prime Minister of India and Prime Minister of Australia held the 2nd India-Australia Virtual Summit.
- During the 2nd India-Australia Virtual Summit, they reviewed the multi-faceted relationship between the two countries and exchanged views on regional and global developments.
2nd India-Australia Virtual Summit
- India expressed its condolences on the destruction caused by severe flooding in New South Wales and Queensland and the resultant loss of lives.
- Return of Ancient Artefacts to India: Indian PM thanked Australia for the special gesture in returning 29 ancient artefacts to India. The artefacts include-
- 12th century Chola bronzes,
- 11th-12th century Jain sculptures from Rajasthan,
- 12th-13th century sandstone Goddess Mahisasuramardini from Gujarat,
- 18th-19th century paintings and
- Early gelatin silver photographs.
- On Comprehensive Strategic Partnership: Both the leaders expressed satisfaction at the progress made under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established during the 1st Virtual Summit in June 2020.
- Diverse Areas of Cooperation: Indian Prime Minister also expressed his satisfaction at the enhanced scope of the relationship which now covers diverse areas such as-
- Trade and investments,
- Defence and security,
- Education and innovation,
- Science and technology,
- Critical minerals,
- Water management,
- New and renewable energy technology,
- Covid-19 related research, etc.
- On Indo-Pacific: Increasing strategic convergence between the two countries as fellow democracies with shared values and common interests, which include a free, open, inclusive, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
- Future Commitments: Joint statement of the Second India-Australia Virtual Summit included-
- Commitments of Deepening Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
- Establishing annual summits between the Prime Ministers under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
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Key Facts about India-Australia Virtual Summit
- About: the first India-Australia Virtual Summit was held in June 2020 in the backdrop of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
- Aim: India-Australia Virtual Summit aims to deepen and expand the horizon of India-Australia Relations.
- Key Outcomes:
- At the first India-Australia Virtual Summit, both countries had elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
- India has signed CSPs with the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) so far.
- On the other hand, Australia has CSPs with China, Indonesia and Singapore.
- During the first India-Australia Virtual Summit, multiple MoUs were signed in various fields, including mining, cyber technology, public administration, defence cooperation and water resource management.
India-Australia 2+2 Meeting