India, Australia discuss Indo-Pacific cooperation

Canberra Oct 10 (IANS) India and Australia on Wednesday discussed cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region at the second 2+2 Dialogue between the two countries here. "India and Australia share warm and multi-faceted relations based on shared democratic values and pluralism " the Indian External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

"At the meeting both sides underlined the growing convergence on a number of strategic perspectives including the need for a free open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region " it said. India and Australia are part of a quad revived last year which also includes the US and Japan that seeks to work for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

The Indo-Pacific has been growing in geopolitical importance in the face of China s growing influence in the region. Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra held the second 2+2 Foreign Secretaries and Defence Secretaries Dialogue with their Australian counterparts Secretary of Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Frances Adamson and Secretary of Department of Defence Greg Moriarty

--IANS ab/tsb/vm