Radio Brisvaani
Perth, February 10 (Australia India News Newsdesk) Addressing members of the Indian diaspora in Perth recently, India’s External Affairs Minister said that it was apt that a conference like the Indian Ocean Conference was taking place in Australia. “I think, very important that such a conference should be taking place in Australia, not to invest in Australia and not to invest. And it’s important because what it has done in many ways is it has focused the attention of the entire Indian Ocean region on the partnership with Australia and in turn it has actually given a certain perspective in Australia towards the Indian Ocean,” he said. He underscored the point that as a foreign minister since he took over the office, it was his fifth visit to Australia in five years. “It is actually reflective of this great change that is taking place in front of your eyes in our relationship. And this change started ten years ago, a decade ago, when Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in India. And he personally initiated an outreach to Australia,” he said.
“So, the first message I bring to you today is that the relationship is doing great. There’s an enormous commitment from India, starting with the Prime Minister, to build on this partnership. And it is something which we regard today. Yesterday, when I addressed the Indian Ocean Conference, I said I regard this as the most consequential relationship we have in the Indian Ocean, “ Dr Jaishankar said. ‘We provide great support to each other. So, this is today very much a relationship that is growing, that is deepening, that is getting new content, new substance, and a higher profile. I would say every passing month, every passing year” he further said.
“And it isn’t only in Australia, today this is a very different India that we are talking about. This India is also developing a global footprint and that footprint has actually brought us much deeper into this broader region itself. So if one looks at Fiji or you look at Papua New Guinea, in fact look at all the Pacific Islands which are close to Australia, there is again today an Indian presence, an Indian project, an Indian contribution, an Indian collaboration in some form. And last year when we had a meeting of Pacific Islands, Prime Minister Modi committed that in key areas like health and education and space, we will be doing very much more with the Pacific Islands. And I mention that to you because when we do more in this larger region, that also contributes, that is part of our partnership with Australia as well. So I can very confidently predict that a country which today is such a strong partner of Australia, where other than Prime Minister, Foreign Ministers, or Defence Ministers may take it on, in pretty much every domain today that level of contact is growing. But having said that, I know to the Indian community, your minds are always focused, he further said.
About the changes taking place in India since Narendra Modi took over the reins of the country, Dr Jaishankar said, “this country, India, is in a position to regularly feed a population the entire size of Europe and North America. It is able to give free healthcare to more people than those who live in Europe. It is able to give houses to people larger than the population of Japan. Which is able to free women from firewood in their kitchens and give them gas cylinders which is more than the population of Germany. It gives loans to people, small people who would normally never get those loans from banks, to allow them to stand on their own feet. And this would be larger than the population of South Africa. I think you people would not have believed me. That is exactly what has happened in the last 10 years. “
“ In these 10 years, we have built 8 new airports every year. So, people start thinking. We have, every 2 years, 3 cities that have got metros. Every day, 30 kilometers of national highways are being built, “he said.
“And for the last 10 years, every day, I repeat, every day, two new colleges are being opened. So, when we first informed, and then I told them what I told you before, that a country which is today in a position to provide nutrition to two-thirds of its population, provides health care, because these are problems everybody in the world has,” he said.
Talking about the new India of today, Dr Jaishankar said, And I am sure many, some of you at least at some point, would have experienced it. You will lose your passport. 10 years ago, 20 years ago, it would have taken two weeks in a good case for you to get some kind of replacement document. Today, because we are digital, there is a database. I mean, you will probably get it the same day or the next day.”
Talking about the importance of leadership and how it has helped, Dr Jaishankar said, ” But you needed a leader who said, yes, I will do it. So, it could be China, it could be 370, it could be COVID. And sometimes, you know, this is a tough world. I know, it looks sometimes like a program, but it’s very complicated. And the example I will give you, because that has really kept me occupied over the last year, was how we conducted the G-30. But when we took over the G-30, the countries of the West had problems with Russia. So we actually had to take charge of the most important grouping of the world. At a time when actually it was very divided. And frankly, very few people expected us to put everything together and find a common ground. So it is this India today, an India which can carry other countries, which in the eyes of the world, if people look at us today, they look at the achievements, the digital achievements of India, the health achievements of India, the better governance practices, the infrastructure of India. “
In his concluding remarks, Dr Jaishankar said, “But I want to say two things to conclude my talk. One, that there’s just been a fall, a foreign policy fall, done in India. And Australia ranks among the three most trusted partners in India. So, I think the Australian Indian community should appreciate it. And my last point is, I have travelled maybe to more than a hundred countries in the world. I have never seen a community center like this. So, I compliment all of you. Even as I came in, I asked the High Commissioner, I said, look, what is his thinking? How did it come about? So, I think it’s a tremendous achievement for the community. I hope you serve as an example to many others, both in Australia and outside. So, once again, really, thank you. It’s a pleasure to be with you.
