India, Australia to expedite talks on bilateral deals

NEW DELHI: India and Australia agreed to seek early closure on their agreement for supply of uranium and expedite negotiations on a bilateral trade pact as they sought closer economic and security ties and inked pacts on social security, counternarcotics, transfer of sentenced persons, tourism and culture.

At a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australina counterpart Tony Abbott in Canberra on Tuesday morning, the two countries also agreed on a ‘Framework for Security Cooperation’ to reflect their deepening and expanding strategic engagement necessitated by China’s rise. The framework calls for annual prime ministerial meetings, regular defence minister meetings, annual defence policy talks and regular maritime exercises.

India and Australia will also cooperate in counter-terrorism and Australia will support Indian membership of the export control regimes, according to the security document. The action plan also says both sides will strengthen military cooperation and cooperate on civil nuclear energy and maritime security. It calls for “early operationalisation of civil nuclear energy cooperation and Australia's support for strengthening India's energy security by supply of uranium for India’s safeguarded nuclear reactors.”