India’s External Affairs Minister, the Hon. Dr. S. Jaishankar was the keynote speaker for the official India Matters launch at the University of Melbourne, hosted by the Australia India Institute.
Minister Jaishankar engaged in an hour-long public conversation event with Australia India Institute’s CEO the Hon Lisa Singh on ‘Australia India Partnership in the Indo-Pacific’ and took questions from the floor of a packed event at University Hall.
Speaking ahead of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue meeting, Dr Jaishankar spoke of the need for the QUAD to play a greater role in security of the Indo-Pacific region.
The Institute’s CEO the Hon Lisa Singh said the discussion was timely, given the elevated status of the QUAD and the focus of the Melbourne meeting on peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
“India has become vibrantly engaged in the Indo Pacific’s geopolitical and economic architecture through its Act East approach,” Ms Singh said.
“Australia shares India’s energetic engagement to work on a range of areas of mutual interests at the highest levels, all to work together for a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific region.”
Ms Singh also launched the Institute’s India Matters program during the event.
“India Matters is an exciting program the Institute will offer through interviews, policy briefs, analysis and reviews with experts, on why India matters to Australia and the world,” Ms Singh said.
“At the Institute we are dedicated to promoting support for and understanding of the Australia-India relationship through our three program areas of security and geopolitics, bilateral economy, and cultural diplomacy.”
Vice Chancellor of the University of Melbourne, Professor Duncan Maskell said the University was greatly honoured to host such a distinguished international guest.
“Australia’s region is dynamic and will play a pivotal role in shaping global progress in this century,” Professor Maskell said.
“The Australia-India bilateral relationship is a key part of this. It holds great promise and cause for optimism.
“The Australia-India relationship is also strategically vital for our University, and an area of growing collaboration and cooperation involving our people, colleagues and students in India,” Professor Maskell said.
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