India and Australia have also called for deepening of their counter-terrorism cooperation

While sharing their concern over terrorism and extremism, India and Australia have called for deepening of counter-terrorism cooperation, including at the multilateral forum.

“Minister Payne and I also shared concerns about terrorism and extremism. We have serious concerns about continuing cross-border terrorism and it’s our shared endeavour to deepen counter-terrorism cooperation, including in the multilateral fora, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said during a joint press conference with Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne in Melbourne on Saturday

He informed that their discussion also revolved around regional, multilateral and global issues of common concern.

“We spoke at some length about regional and multilateral matters, global issues as well. There was an exchange of view on South Asia, on Southeast Asia, on the Indo-Pacific region,” the EAM said.

Jaishankar emphasized that India and Australia as liberal democracies would continue to work towards a rules-based international order, freedom of navigation in international waters, promotion of connectivity, growth and security of all while respecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states.

With regard to the first Foreign Ministers Cyber Framework Dialogue, which is a direct outcome of the virtual Summit between the Prime Ministers of the two countries in June 2020, Jaishankar said both sides welcomed the elevation of the bilateral cyber cooperation through the India-Australia Framework Arrangement on Cyber and Cyber-Enabled Critical Technology Cooperation under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Jaishankar said his discussion with his Australian counterpart also took into account enhancing the two countries’ engagement in the North-East Indian Ocean region, their cultural partnership and Maitri scholarship.