The Australian envoy to India, Barry O'Farrell, has said that under the leadership of new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Canberra would like to "accelerate the economic partnership". Speaking to our Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal exclusively, envoy Barry said, "Strong message that despite the change of government within democracies, the commitment can be maintained."

PM Albanese and PM Modi held a bilateral meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday on the sidelines of the quad summit. This was the first bilateral between the two sides since Albanese's election victory over the weekend.&nbsp;

Sidhant Sibal: How do you see Quad outcomes?

Barry O'Farrell: Further progress at the Quad Leaders' meeting. This is only the fourth, the second in person, and again demonstrated that Quad is committed to practical measures to try and improve the future measures in the Indo-Pacific region.

Sidhant Sibal: Now that the new Australian PM has met the Indian PM, how do you see the trajectory between the two countries?

Barry O'Farrell: A strong message that despite the change of government, within democracies, the commitment can be maintained. PM , within hours of being sworn in, jumped on a plane to Tokyo to meet with PM Modi, other members of the quad, a clear demonstration of our commitment to the Quad. And secondly, our foreign minister, who accompanied him, had her first bilateral meeting with anybody---with Dr Jaishankar, which again demonstrates the strength of the Australia-India relationship.

Sidhant Sibal: What can we expect under the new leadership in Australia when it comes to India?

Barry O'Farrell: The Australian PM has already been clear what he likes to do is, to further accelerate the economic partnership between both countries. Also, partnership in relation to renewable energy. India is doing enormous things across the country in terms of switching towards renewables. Australia believes we can not only assist that but can learn from India that we are doing the same thing back home.

Sidhant Sibal: Australia hosts the quad summit next year. What will be the key areas of focus?

Barry O'Farrell: I think, clearly, the role of the Quad--core areas--will be to practically support the region. From cyber security to maritime security or climate change, vaccines or health issues, those issues do not have a finish line, but at the heart of the quad is a commitment to a free, open, and secure Indo Pacific. That is the vision we share with other countries in the region who want to sign up to a world in which sovereign nations are respected, where there is freedom and openness within the countries.

The Australian envoy to India, Barry O'Farrell, has said that under the leadership of new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Canberra would like to "accelerate the economic partnership".

The Australian envoy to India, Barry O'Farrell, has said that under the leadership of new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Canberra would like to "accelerate the economic partnership". Speaking to our Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal exclusively, envoy Barry said, "Strong message that despite the change of government within democracies, the commitment can be maintained." PM Albanese and PM Modi held a bilateral meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday on the sidelines of the quad summit. This was the first bilateral between the two sides since Albanese's election victory over the weekend. Sidhant Sibal: How do you see Quad outcomes? Barry O'Farrell: Further progress at the Quad Leaders' meeting. This is only the fourth, the second in person, and again demonstrated that Quad is committed to practical measures to try and improve the future measures in the Indo-Pacific region. Sidhant Sibal: Now that the new Australian PM has met the Indian PM, how do you see the trajectory between the two countries? Barry O'Farrell: A strong message that despite the change of government, within democracies, the commitment can be maintained. PM , within hours of being sworn in, jumped on a plane to Tokyo to meet with PM Modi, other members of the quad, a clear demonstration of our commitment to the Quad. And secondly, our foreign minister, who accompanied him, had her first bilateral meeting with anybody---with Dr Jaishankar, which again demonstrates the strength of the Australia-India relationship. Sidhant Sibal: What can we expect under the new leadership in Australia when it comes to India? Barry O'Farrell: The Australian PM has already been clear what he likes to do is, to further accelerate the economic partnership between both countries. Also, partnership in relation to renewable energy. India is doing enormous things across the country in terms of switching towards renewables. Australia believes we can not only assist that but can learn from India that we are doing the same thing back home. Sidhant Sibal: Australia hosts the quad summit next year. What will be the key areas of focus? Barry O'Farrell: I think, clearly, the role of the Quad--core areas--will be to practically support the region. From cyber security to maritime security or climate change, vaccines or health issues, those issues do not have a finish line, but at the heart of the quad is a commitment to a free, open, and secure Indo Pacific. That is the vision we share with other countries in the region who want to sign up to a world in which sovereign nations are respected, where there is freedom and openness within the countries.

New PM would like to accelerate economic ties, Australian Envoy on ties with India

Close on the heels of Quad foreign ministers meet in Melbourne, Australian high commissioner to India Barry O'Farrell has said that the gathering is a sign of return to "in-person meetings".

Speaking exclusively to WION’s Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal, envoy Barry called the “incredibly important meeting” a demonstration of “four countries talking about the need to maintain a rules-based order within our region”.&nbsp;

On Friday, the foreign ministers of India, Australia, the US &amp; Japan met in Melbourne in an in-person meet after a gap of over one year. The last in-person meeting took place in Japan in 2020.

In Delhi, the Indian and Australian Trade Ministers announced that an interim free trade agreement (FTA) would be finalised in a month's time.

Meanwhile, speaking on the possibility of the India-Australia-France trilateral meeting in Paris, the envoy said that the 3 countries have “never lost sight” to the “commitment on the Indo pacific”.&nbsp;

The ties between Australia and France had nosedived following the singing of the AUKUS pact between Washington, London and Canberra, a fallout that was seen on another trilateral meeting.

WION: How do you see the Quad meet that happened in Melbourne, in terms of its significance?

Barry O'Farrell: It is an incredibly important meeting that is demonstrated by the in-person presence of foreign ministers of four countries who are talking about the need to maintain a rules-based order in our region. That fits nicely with what we are doing in Delhi. Both Indian and Australian governments are trying to prioritise growth to make counting strong at the time of geopolitical uncertainty

WION: China has hit out at Quad. What are your views on that?

Barry O'Farrell: Great thing about this is that Quad countries continue to do what they do, focusing on practical things that are impacting people's lives in the Indo-Pacific—climate change, health, securing supply chains to build the economies. What we are doing in Delhi today is in line with what the Quad wants—which is free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, rules-based system.

WION: In Delhi, it has been decided that an interim FTA will be signed this month. How far progress has been made?

Barry O'Farrell: Notably, considerable progress is being made. Both the countries’ PMs will be happy when they get a report on what is going on in the last couple of days. But ultimately, what we seeking to do is to maximize the opportunity within both countries and to assist each other to grow economies, create jobs, give people better- iving standards and deliver free, open, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific, which PM Modi said is the sacred duty of Australia and India.

WION: A Memorandum of Understanding on tourism was also signed. How will it help in increasing tourism?

Barry O'Farrell: It will become convenient for Indians to come to Australia from February 21, when our borders will be open. Currently, no extra cost on visas is levied. But this is just a return to what was happening during the pre-pandemic when we saw strong tourism between India and Australia. It was not just Indians coming to Australia, but Australians were also going to India.

WION: Can we see more high-level visits between the two sides?

Barry O'Farrell: What we have seen with the Quad meeting today is the return to normalcy—the return of in-person meetings. We have seen trade negotiators from Australia this week. Our trade minister is meeting face-to-face with his Indian counterpart. We will see Indian ministers going to Australia in a couple of months.

WION: Australian FM is going to France. It is an important visit. Will we see India-France-Australia trilateral meet, given the AUKUS somewhat might turned out to be a wheel back?

Barry O'Farrell: One thing is that France, Australia and India have never lost sight of their commitment to the Indo-Pacific. Fact that the Australian FM is going to Paris later this month is a great thing, but whether the proposed trilateral happen is up to the Indian and French foreign ministers as well.

Close on the heels of Quad foreign ministers meet in Melbourne, Australian high commissioner to India Barry O'Farrell has said that the gathering is a sign of return to "in-person meetings".

Close on the heels of Quad foreign ministers meet in Melbourne, Australian high commissioner to India Barry O'Farrell has said that the gathering is a sign of return to "in-person meetings". Speaking exclusively to WION’s Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal, envoy Barry called the “incredibly important meeting” a demonstration of “four countries talking about the need to maintain a rules-based order within our region”. On Friday, the foreign ministers of India, Australia, the US & Japan met in Melbourne in an in-person meet after a gap of over one year. The last in-person meeting took place in Japan in 2020. In Delhi, the Indian and Australian Trade Ministers announced that an interim free trade agreement (FTA) would be finalised in a month's time. Meanwhile, speaking on the possibility of the India-Australia-France trilateral meeting in Paris, the envoy said that the 3 countries have “never lost sight” to the “commitment on the Indo pacific”. The ties between Australia and France had nosedived following the singing of the AUKUS pact between Washington, London and Canberra, a fallout that was seen on another trilateral meeting. WION: How do you see the Quad meet that happened in Melbourne, in terms of its significance? Barry O'Farrell: It is an incredibly important meeting that is demonstrated by the in-person presence of foreign ministers of four countries who are talking about the need to maintain a rules-based order in our region. That fits nicely with what we are doing in Delhi. Both Indian and Australian governments are trying to prioritise growth to make counting strong at the time of geopolitical uncertainty WION: China has hit out at Quad. What are your views on that? Barry O'Farrell: Great thing about this is that Quad countries continue to do what they do, focusing on practical things that are impacting people's lives in the Indo-Pacific—climate change, health, securing supply chains to build the economies. What we are doing in Delhi today is in line with what the Quad wants—which is free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, rules-based system. WION: In Delhi, it has been decided that an interim FTA will be signed this month. How far progress has been made? Barry O'Farrell: Notably, considerable progress is being made. Both the countries’ PMs will be happy when they get a report on what is going on in the last couple of days. But ultimately, what we seeking to do is to maximize the opportunity within both countries and to assist each other to grow economies, create jobs, give people better- iving standards and deliver free, open, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific, which PM Modi said is the sacred duty of Australia and India. WION: A Memorandum of Understanding on tourism was also signed. How will it help in increasing tourism? Barry O'Farrell: It will become convenient for Indians to come to Australia from February 21, when our borders will be open. Currently, no extra cost on visas is levied. But this is just a return to what was happening during the pre-pandemic when we saw strong tourism between India and Australia. It was not just Indians coming to Australia, but Australians were also going to India. WION: Can we see more high-level visits between the two sides? Barry O'Farrell: What we have seen with the Quad meeting today is the return to normalcy—the return of in-person meetings. We have seen trade negotiators from Australia this week. Our trade minister is meeting face-to-face with his Indian counterpart. We will see Indian ministers going to Australia in a couple of months. WION: Australian FM is going to France. It is an important visit. Will we see India-France-Australia trilateral meet, given the AUKUS somewhat might turned out to be a wheel back? Barry O'Farrell: One thing is that France, Australia and India have never lost sight of their commitment to the Indo-Pacific. Fact that the Australian FM is going to Paris later this month is a great thing, but whether the proposed trilateral happen is up to the Indian and French foreign ministers as well.

In-person Quad meet is a sign of return to normalcy, says Australian envoy Barry O'Farrell

Speaking to our Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal, High Commissioner Barry lauding India's vaccine production capacity and said, "there are many vaccine manufacturers around the world, only one country has the manufacturing capacity to supply the world that is India."

Exclusive: Australian envoy Barry O'Farrell speaks about assistance to India, Indo Pacific | WION