Collaboration with India in the interest of smaller nations, says Australian FM

Australia's Foreign Minister Marise Payne on Wednesday said that Australia and India should collaborate to work in the interest of smaller sovereign countries.

Delivering an address at the Raisina Dialogue here, Payne underlined that Australia has shared interests with India on crime, terrorism and environmental challenges.

"In 2014, Australia and India conducted naval defence capabilities. Australia is engaging in close economic engagement with India. By 2035, India will be the major global economy in the world," she said.

Emphasising on the 'Quad', an alliance of four countries including India and Australia, Payne remarked, "Australia is a strong supporter of US support in Asia. Australia and India shall cooperate to work for smaller sovereign nations. Australia, India, US, and Japan have been working together in the form of Quad."

She noted that Australia will support in building connectivity in South Asia to build quality infrastructure, adding that Canberra wanted to bolster its cooperation with New Delhi in this regard.

Underlining the commitment to stronger engagement with India and the Indian Ocean region, Payne went on to say that the two nations should cooperate to develop prosperous, stable and sovereign relations.

The fourth Raisina Dialogue is underway till January 10 and has around 600 delegates from 92 countries participating in around 50 hours worth of debates and discussions.