EAM Jaishankar discusses Indo-Pacific, West Asia state of affairs with Australian counterpart Wong

Exterior Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on February 9 met his Australian counterpart Penny Wong and mentioned the bilateral complete strategic partnership, the Indo-Pacific area, state of affairs in West Asia and different regional and world subjects.

Mr. Jaishankar is within the Australian metropolis of Perth to attend a two-day convention on the Indian Ocean starting Friday.

Mr. Jaishankar would handle the inaugural session of the convention, together with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Australian Overseas Minister Wong and her Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan.

“Delighted to satisfy FM @SenatorWong of Australia in Perth as we speak as we collect for the seventh Indian Ocean Convention. Good trade on our complete strategic partnership and convergence on issues associated to the Indian Ocean. Additionally mentioned the Indo-Pacific, state of affairs in West Asia and different regional and world subjects,” Mr. Jaishankar posted on X together with some images of the assembly.

The ‘Indian Ocean Convention’ is a flagship consultative discussion board for nations within the area, organised yearly by the Ministry of Exterior Affairs (MEA) in affiliation with the India Basis.

The seventh version of the convention is being held in Perth on February 9 and 10 in affiliation with the Division of Overseas Affairs and Commerce of the Australian authorities together with Singapore’s S Rajaratnam Faculty of Worldwide Research and Perth-U.S. Asia Centre, the MEA mentioned in an announcement on Thursday in New Delhi forward of Jaishankar’s journey to the Australian metropolis.

The theme of this version of the convention is “In the direction of a Steady and Sustainable Indian Ocean”.

The convention will deliver collectively delegations led by Ministers from over 22 nations and senior officers from 16 nations and 6 multilateral organisations, the MEA mentioned.

“The convention can even witness the participation of over 400 social and company leaders, coverage practitioners, students, professionals, and media personnel from about 40 nations,” it mentioned.

Since its debut in 2016 in Singapore, the Indian Ocean Convention has performed an essential position in bringing collectively nations and principal maritime companions of the area collectively on a typical platform to deliberate upon the prospects of regional cooperation for Safety and Progress for All within the Area (SAGAR), it added.