As members of the Commonwealth, India and Australia have
a shared history and language, common democratic traditions,
similar legal, financial and Governmental structures and
common interests as Indian Ocean littoral States. With the
increasing importance of the Asia-Pacific region, there
are concerted efforts on both sides to expand and diversify
bilateral relations. However, Australian reaction to our
nuclear tests in 1998 caused a setback to our political
relations. The relations are now back on track and have
acquired a new momentum and vigour.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer paid an official visit
to India from March 21-24, 2000 and paved the way for Prime
Minister John Howard's visit to India in July 2000 after
a gap of eleven years. Other recent visits were that of
Mr. Tim Fisher, Deputy Prime Minister in February 1999,
Shadow Foreign Minister Laurie Brereton in February 2000,
Opposition Leader Kim Beazley in April 2000, Immigration
and Multicultural Affairs Minister Philip Ruddock in July
2000, Trade Minister Mark Vaile in October 2000, Minister
for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts
Senator Richard Alston in December 2000, an Australian Parliamentary
delegation led by Hon. Andrew Southcott, MP in November
2000. Important visits from State Governments included that
of Deputy Premier Hendy Cowan of Western Australia in February
2000 and Deputy Premier Jim Elder of Queensland in May 2000.
From the Indian side the first important visit post Pokhran
II was that of Minister of Commerce Shri Murasoli Maran
in April 2000 to lead the Joint Commion Talks followed by
that of Minister of Textiles Shri Kashi Ram Rana in November
2000. In 2001 important bilateral visits were that of EAM
and Raksha Mantri Shri Jaswant Singh in June 2001, Minister
of Information Technology and Parliamentary Affairs Shri
Pramod Mahajan in April 2001 and later as leader of a goodwill
Parliamentary delegation of whips of different political
parties in May 2001. The goodwill delegation included Minister
of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Petroleum & Natural
Gas, Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar and Minister of State for
Parliamentary Affairs and Railways, Shri O. Rajagopal. A
large delegation of Members of Parliament and Assembly Speakers
from different states led by Speaker of the Lok Sabha Shri
G. M. Balayogi and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha Shri
P. M. Sayeed attended the 47th Commonwealth Parliamentary
Association Conference in September 2001. Minister of Health
and Family Welfare Dr. C.P.Thakur led a 62 member delegation
to the 6th International Conference on AIDS in Asia and
Pacific held in Melbourne in October 2001. Other important
visits included that of Governor of Andhra Pradesh Dr. C.
Rangarajan in October 2001 to render the Narayanan Oration
at the ANU and Minister of Rural Development Shri M. Venkayya
Naidu in November, 2001 to attend the Commonwealth Local
Government Forum in Brisbane.
Due to the last minute cancellation of the visit of PM
in the wake of communal riots in Godhra, Gujarat, the Indian
delegation to CHOGM 2002 (March 2-5) was led by External
Affairs Minister Shri Jaswant Singh. Bilateral consultations
at Secretary-level between the two countries were revived
in New Delhi in February 2000 and were subsequently held
in Canberra in April 2001. There were extensive discussions
and exchange of views on bilateral relations and on important
international and regional issues.
On the economic front, India Australia relations are expanding
rapidly. Efforts to promote bilateral trade have been institutionalised
by the establishment of the Joint Ministerial Commission
(JMC) and the Joint Business Council (JBC). The last meeting
of the JMC and JBC and the first Joint Working Group (JWG)
on Energy and Minerals, were held in Australia in April
2000.
India and Australia have also signed the following Agreements:
(a) Special Agreement on Cooperation in Science and Technology
(b) Agreement for Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention
of Fiscal Evasion
(c) Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement
Two Indian Defence Officers are currently undergoing training
in Australian Command Staff Course (ASCS) and Centre for
Defence and Security Studies Course (CDSS). Similarly, two
Australian Defence officers are attending the training courses
at Defence Service Staff College (Command and Staff Course),
Wellington and National Defence College, New Delhi.
