New Delhi (NVI): The first India-France-Australia trilateral dialogue was held today virtually, with focus on enhancing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region.
During the dialogue, the three sides discussed economic and geostrategic challenges and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 and domestic responses to the pandemic, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
Cooperation on Marine Global Commons and potential areas for practical cooperation at the trilateral and regional level were also discussed, including through regional organisations such as ASEAN, IORA and the Indian Ocean Commission.
The three countries also had an exchange on the priorities, challenges and trends in regional and global multilateral institutions, including the best ways to strengthen and reform multilateralism, MEA said.
The outcome-oriented meeting was held with the objective of building on the strong bilateral relations that the three countries share with each other and synergising their respective strengths to ensure a peaceful, secure, prosperous and rules-based Indo-Pacific Region. The three sides agreed to hold the dialogue on an annual basis.
The meeting was co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, François Delattre, Secretary-General, French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and Frances Adamson, Secretary, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The meeting takes place at a time when the Indian Air Force is inducting French Rafale jets while New Delhi is taking maritime bilateral relations with Australia to the next level amid an escalating border row with China at LAC in Ladakh.
-ARK
