New Delhi [India], November 20 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with visiting Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Thursday in the national capital and expressed optimism ahead of their scheduled discussions.
In a post on X, he wrote, “Welcome my friend FM @SenatorWong to India. Look forward to our discussions.”
Earlier in the day, the Australian Foreign Minister visited Humayun’s Tomb and viewed Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters at the Humayun’s Tomb Museum. Presented in collaboration with the National Museum of Australia and the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), the exhibition brings one of Australia’s most iconic First Nations stories to India.
Minister Wong was welcomed by Kiran Nadar, Founder of KNMA; Dr. Jilda Andrews, Deputy Director, First Nations at the National Museum of Australia; and the visiting First Nations Cultural Ambassadors, who greeted her with the Indigenous cultural song “Inma.” During her tour, she interacted with the cultural ambassadors and representatives from KNMA while learning about the significance of the exhibition.
Wong arrived in Delhi on Wednesday evening.
The Australian Foreign Minister is in India for the 16th Australia-India Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue, marking her 26th meeting with External Affairs Minister Jaishankar.
During her visit, discussions will focus on cooperation in cyber and strategic technology, trade, maritime security, defense, sport, and people-to-people ties.
In her official statement ahead of the visit, Wong said, “Australia and India have never been closer, and our partnership never more consequential — it is crucial for us and crucial for the region in a sharper and more competitive world.”
She noted that her visit builds on the momentum of recent high-level engagements between India and Australia and “reflects the ongoing work of the Albanese Government to deepen our relationships and strengthen our resilience.”
Wong added that cooperation under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership highlights the deepening alignment and shared vision for a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
“I look forward to discussions with my counterpart and friend, Minister for External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, to set the course for an even more ambitious, future-focused agenda, as our partnership enters its next phase. We will look to enhance our cooperation across cyber and strategic technology, trade, maritime security, defense, sport, and people-to-people ties,” she said.
“Together, Australia and India are working bilaterally, through the Quad, and through multilateral institutions to advance our collective security and prosperity,” she added.
The high-level visit follows Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s trip to Australia in October, during which he held delegation-level talks with Wong and met Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, marking continued momentum in the bilateral relationship. (ANI)
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