Melbourne [Australia], July 9 (ANI): India and Australia on Thursday elevated their bilateral partnership with the signing of a landmark nuclear energy agreement under which Australia will supply uranium to support India’s civilian nuclear energy program.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Melbourne, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the agreement as a major step forward for India’s clean energy ambitions.
“Australia will supply uranium to India. We have signed an important agreement in the field of nuclear energy. It will give new momentum to our clean energy goals,” Modi said.
The prime minister said India and Australia, as “two vibrant democracies, multicultural societies and important ocean powers,” share a common vision that continues to strengthen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
He added that the third Annual Leaders’ Summit had opened new avenues for bilateral cooperation.
Confirming the agreement, Albanese said the two countries had signed an arrangement enabling uranium exports to India for peaceful purposes under the 2015 Australia-India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement.
Modi also announced that India and Australia had agreed to work toward a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), describing it as a balanced, ambitious, and mutually beneficial trade pact.
To further strengthen economic ties, Modi said both countries would also advance negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty.
In the critical minerals sector, Modi announced that India and Australia would establish a Critical Minerals Corridor to build resilient supply chains and support the clean energy transition.
He also announced the creation of an India-Australia Defence Innovation Corridor to expand cooperation in defense technology.
The two countries also unveiled a joint declaration on defense and security cooperation, a maritime security collaboration roadmap, and a new partnership focused on cybersecurity, critical technologies, and resilient supply chains.
Albanese described India as one of Australia’s most important strategic partners, saying the relationship had “never been more consequential.”
“We share a focus on deepening and diversifying the relationship between our countries so we can continue to grow from strength to strength. Today, we have done exactly that across the breadth of our relationship. With new landmark agreements, we are expanding our relationship across defence and security, education, science and technology, and energy security and critical minerals,” Albanese said.
The leaders also endorsed a trilateral technology partnership involving Australia, India, and Canada. In addition, Australia agreed to establish a temporary space-tracking terminal on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands to support India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight program.
The agreements come as both countries seek to deepen cooperation in clean energy, critical minerals, defense, technology, and Indo-Pacific security, with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to promoting a stable, secure, and prosperous region. (ANI)
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