India and Australia discussed cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region at the second 2+2 Dialogue between the two countries…reports Asian Lite News
“India and Australia share warm and multi-faceted relations based on shared democratic values and pluralism,” the Indian External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.
“At the meeting, both sides underlined the growing convergence on a number of strategic perspectives including the need for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region,” it said.
India and Australia are part of a quad revived last year, which also includes the US and Japan, that seeks to work for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.
The Indo-Pacific has been growing in geopolitical importance in the face of China’s growing influence in the region.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra held the second 2+2 Foreign Secretaries and Defence Secretaries Dialogue with their Australian counterparts, Secretary of Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Frances Adamson and Secretary of Department of Defence Greg Moriarty.