Institute of Social and Cultural Studies(ISCS),India as an autonomous organization had been addressing various socio-Cultural perspectives, historical intricacies and development ideas over discussions, national a International events and vista of publication. In order to address various angles of bilateral relations and comprehensive strategic partnership that both India-Australia stepped over MoU’s and agreements in month of June 2020- organized a Webinar on” India Australia Alliance over Indo-Pacific” on -3rd July 2020. After the introduction by ISCS, the Chair of the Webinar Prof. Raja Gopal Dhar Chakraborti, , Prof and HoD, Department of South and South –East Asian Studies, University of Calcutta highlighted India and Australia were in different stages of economic development played a very important role in fostering world peace. . The India Economic Strategy, released in 2018 clearly recognized the Indian importance to Australia.

India was Australia’s fifth largest trade partner, with trade in goods and services worth A$29 billion, representing 3.6 percent of the total Australian trade in 2017-18. Australia’s exports to India were valued at A$8 billion and imports at A$21 billion. There were already more than 100,000 Indian students who were studying in Australia, more than two-thirds of whom are pursuing higher education. The Australian foreign policy as released in November 2017 saw India in the front rank of Australia’s international partnerships: “Beyond an increasingly important economic relationship, our security interests are congruent, particularly in relation to the stability and openness of the Indian Ocean.

Both the countries have common interests in upholding international law especially in relation to freedom of  navigation and maritime security.” India’s strategic engagement with East Asia and the United States was strongly supported by Australia. On 4 June 2020, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, participated in the Australia-India Leaders’ Virtual Summit. At this meeting, the two Prime Ministers elevated the bilateral Strategic Partnership concluded in 2009 to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP). The CSP was based on mutual understanding, trust, common interests and the shared values of democracy and rule of law. Through the CSP, both countries had committed to work together across a range of areas. Prime Minister Scott Morrison on 1st July 2020 pushed a new aggressive defence strategy even as he mentioned the ongoing border stand-off between New Delhi and Beijing and rising tensions in the South China Sea. Enhancing its defence spending by 25 about 40 per cent, Australia released its new 2020 Defence Strategic Update, and Force Structure Plan, under which it mentioned India as one of the main committed partners in the Indo-Pacific.
(Amb) Anil Wadhwa, Distinguished Fellow, Vivekananda International Foundation added that the much-talk about virtual Summit between PM Modi and PM Morrison on 4 June confirmed the all-round improvement in their bilateral ties which had been elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. the MOUs signed during the Modi – Morrison virtual Summit on 4 June werei) The Implementing arrangement concerning cooperation in Defence Science and Technology to the MOU on Defence Cooperation provideed a framework for growing collaboration between the technology research organizations ofboth countries, ii) PM Modi also conveyed that India was working on its Mars and Moon missions, and Australia could work with India in collaboration, iii) the MOU on cooperation in the field of mining and processing of critical and strategic minerals would ensure a long-standing supply and investment relationship between the two countries in the area of critical minerals ,iv) the MOU on Vocational Education and Training would extend the collaboration between Indian and Australian agencies across the full spectrum of enhancement of training curriculum, v) A new collaborative agreement on water resources management, training and education, and for developing sustainable solutions for water and economic development and water recycling also was in line with the recommendations in the draft report, vi) , The two sides had agreed through the joint statement, to have a one -off special Covid 19 collaboration round based of the scientific reserve fund in 2020.

The draft report recommended enhancement of the Fund, and also proposed setting up of a similar funds in the field of humanities as well as startups, vii) , the flagging of the need to strengthen India Australian partnership on grains management and logistics to reduce post-harvest losses, rationalize costs and supply chain logistics and setting up educational campuses in each other’s countries during the Summit were also proposals in the draft report, viii) regardless of India’s stand on the RCEP, the report recommended, and the Summit had endorsed this,
that India and Australia would now restart their Free Trade Agreement negotiations, which were stalled due to RCEP. There was a lot to gain if this comes about quickly for both countries. Dr. Asutosh Misra , Chief Executive and Executive Director,, Institute for Australia India Engagement (IAIE), Editor in chief- India News on parallel tunes added that virtual summit in the month of June was a reciprocation of warmth and support that the countries had been beholding for each other , as the political stalwarts of both the nations addressed each other in vernacular languages.

The countries had also stressed on transparency, support, and resilience in terms of International Policy approach in regards to Indo-Pacific sustainable development. In case of Australia it had been very vocal of distress against violation of Humanistic approach, migration , discrimination and collision in some of the Asian region and cyber hacking issues. Australia had stressed on developing steps of synergic engagements
between countries , boosting Indonesia as geographically it helped to build ties between countries and support their growth through boosting their economy, trade, sustainability and sizeable support to Indian Diasporas and thereby attaining historic heights in the future of Indo-pacific. On the concluding note , after an enriching discussions and interaction with participants over cyber issues, acts of China affecting global politics, opportunities of India-Australia engagements over tourism, 26 religious –cultural diversities, education and research it was noted that the COVID-19 pandemic had thrown many challenges to the global community .

While Australia had been comparatively successful in flattening the COVID-19 curve and containing the spread of virus, India had a long way to go and here layed the need for cooperation particularly with regard to health research and development between the two countries.