New Delhi, Sep 5 (PTI): India and Australia today inked a significant civil nuclear agreement which will allow Canberra to supply uranium to the energy-starved country even as the two countries discussed ways to enhance cooperation in key areas of security and trade.
The nuclear pact was signed after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott during which the two leaders discussed crucial bilateral, regional and international issues including the situation in Iraq and Ukraine.
India and Australia, which has about a third of the world's recoverable uranium resources and exports nearly 7,000 tonnes of it a year, launched talks on uranium sales in 2012 after Canberra lifted a long-time ban on exporting the valuable yellowcake to Delhi to meet its ambitious nuclear energy programme.
Aimed at promoting cooperation in the field peaceful uses of nuclear energy, the agreement recognizes India's commitment to and use of nuclear energy with a view to achieving sustainable development and strengthening energy security.
"Australia can play the role of a long-term reliable supplies of uranium to India. It provides for supply of uranium, production of radio isotopes, nuclear safety and other areas of cooperation," as per the pact details.
Today's pact is significant given that Indian nuclear plants generate around 4680 MW of electricity, of which the 2840 MW was from indigenous uranium while 1840 MW was from imported fuel.
The two Prime Ministers directed the negotiators to conclude the Administrative Arrangements pertaining to the civil nuclear pact at an early date. According to officials, it may take upto two years for India to receive the first consignment of uranium from Australia.
The civil nuclear deal is among the four pacts signed - Cooperation in Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as also in Water Resources Management and sports.
Noting that Australia has received commitments from India that uranium supplied by it would not be used in Indian nuclear weapons or be used to quarantine Indian domestic supplies of uranium for nuclear weapons, Abbott has said "India has an absolutely impeccable non-proliferation record and India has been a model international citizen."
During the meeting, the two leaders also discussed ways to deepen the strategic and the economic partnerships.
Abbott, who is on a two-day visit, landed in Mumbai early yesterday where he held extensive meetings with business leaders and select Indian CEOs.
Noting that India and Australia were bound by "strongly convergent" trade and strategic interests, the visiting dignitary has said "we do need to invest more time and effort into the trade and investment relationship with India.
"If we do put the same amount of time and effort into this one that we’ve put into some of our other relationships, there’s no reason why the economic relationship with India in the years to come cannot resemble the economic relationship that we've already got with the major countries of North Asia."
The two-way trade was worth around 15 billion dollars but the aim was to substantially grow this figure, the Australian leader said.
He also maintained that India has proved that economic transformation is quite compatible with robust free speech, independent courts, and democratic checks and balances on government.
"The election of new governments opens new possibilities for both our countries. Australia is 'open for business' – Prime Minister Modi is inviting the world to, 'come, make in India'," he said.
After being accorded a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the morning, Abbott laid wreaths at Rajghat annd India Gate before meeting Modi at Hyderabad House in the evening. According to a joint statement issued after the meeting, the two Prime Ministers noted that both Australians and Indians have been victims of terrorism and commended the work of the Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, including discussions on cyber security and the growing collaboration against the threat posed by terrorist groups.
And in this context, Modi and Abbott also noted the ongoing cooperation in combating illegal migration.
Underlining the importance of the maritime dimension, they welcomed discussions on maritime security in the ongoing disarmament and non-proliferation dialogue held at the level of officials.
They reaffirmed their desire for a peaceful, prosperous and stable Asia-Pacific region, underpinned by cooperative mechanisms and emphasised their interest in building closer cooperation in the maritime domain.
Committing to strengthening the defence and security partnership, they welcomed growing cooperation in defence, counter-terrorism, cyber policy, transnational crime, disarmament and non-proliferation, humanitarian assistance, disaster management and peacekeeping.
"They called for deepening the framework of defence and security cooperation to guide the bilateral engagement in these and other priority areas," the statement said.
The Prime Ministers welcomed preparations for the inaugural bilateral maritime exercise to be held in 2015 and initiatives underway to further strengthen defence cooperation, including closer engagement and cooperation in defence, science and industry.
They also explored joint participation in events commemorating the World War I. "On behalf of the Prime Ministers of Australia and New Zealand, Prime Minister Abbott extended an invitation to Prime Minister Modi to attend the commemoration of the 100th year anniversary of Gallipoli in 2015," the joint document said.
The two leaders highlighted the concrete steps towards more effective practical cooperation in the Indian Ocean Regional Association (IORA) and noted that India and Australia would work closely to further strengthen the organisation in the six priority areas of maritime security and piracy, fisheries management, disaster risk reduction, tourism and cultural exchanges and trade and investment facilitation.
The two leaders also discussed the importance of consolidating the G20 as the premier forum for international economic cooperation.
Abbott briefed Modi on Australia's priorities as host of the G20 in 2014 and underlined Australia's interest in working closely with India to lift ambition and ensure the G20 delivers economic growth, jobs and a resilient global economy.
The joint statement said Modi appreciated Australia's chairmanship and underlined India's commitment to the G20's successful contribution to ensuring strong, sustainable and balanced growth of the global economy.
The two leaders also recognised the importance of the East Asia Summit (EAS) as the pre-eminent regional forum for addressing strategic, political and economic issues.
The Prime Ministers acknowledged the ongoing cooperation in other regional bodies such as the ASEAN Regional Forum and the Asia Europe Meeting. Abbott reiterated Australia's support for India's membership of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC).
Both countries look forward to taking this collaboration to a higher level at the next Council of Ministers meeting in Perth in October 2014.
The Prime Ministers reaffirmed the importance of reform of the UN, including the Security Council, to better reflect contemporary realities. Modi welcomed Australia's continuing support for India as a permanent member in a reformed UN Security Council.
Underlining the importance of greater connectivity to support growing commercial and cultural ties, including in the education and tourism sectors, both the leaders welcomed the commencement of direct Air India flights to Australia.
Modi and Abbott noted progress in negotiations on the Social Security Agreement and called for its early conclusion.
Noting the importance of promoting exchanges, particularly among the youth, they also called for discussions on a Work and Holiday Visa Agreement.
They also welcomed the signing of an MoU on sports cooperation that would facilitate greater exchanges, including on sports training.
The Prime Ministers welcomed progress on negotiations for an agreement on transfer of sentenced persons and looked forward to its early conclusion.