Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday said that India is going through a remarkable transformation of its economy while talking about the partnership between the two countries on new energy economy.
Canberra [Australia], September 30 : While speaking during an online briefing with Indian media, he said, “The ability to take up technology at a scale that is commercial is the key to successfully transitioning to the new energy economy. And India understands that. And India is going through a remarkable transformation of its own economy and looking to actually transition its own energy economy into the future.” Recently, in the first in-person Quad Leaders’ Summit, both Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Morrison agreed on a number of initiatives, including the agreement to go forward with a low emissions technology partnership. Australia’s approach to the new energy economy is transitioning to net zero over the next 30 years. With the vision to ensure technologies enable economies to continue to grow and develop and create jobs and make things, PM Morrison said, “But, to do that in a way that is patient, which is sensible, which is practical, and so, working together on technologies, I think, is one of the, one of the key partnerships that you can have to ensure that both of our countries are able to go through this transition period. But, more than that, demonstrate that this is how you do it, that this isn’t just about setting targets and doing these things. It’s the how that matters.” He said that such technology is not only for advanced economies, but is supposed for the whole world. He also said that at the Quad meeting last week, there is a great deal of enthusiasm all around the world regarding the new energy economy. “I have no doubt, for trying to move our economies into this, this new energy economy, to move it into an economy that understands the impacts of carbon emissions,” added Morrison. He said that zero-carbon energy technologies can be achieved and that is what both prime ministers discussed at the Quad meeting. “That’s what the Prime Minister and I are very committed to achieving, a practical energy technology partnership that enables zero-carbon energy technologies and even sub-zero carbon technologies and transition technologies, that actually enable us all to get there, and we actually can achieve this. This can be done. It’s been done many, many times in world history,” said Morrison. He further reiterated that both he and PM Modi share a passion on the practical when it comes to transitioning both economies. “And the low emissions technology partnership will particularly look at ultra low cost solar and hydrogen supply chains linking into India. And we see that as a big opportunity for both countries,” said Australian PM. Australia has long been an energy exporter to India. Morrison said that this will continue, adding that in addition to that, a whole new line will open up. “Our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership further, is becoming more ambitious, and our trade ministers will be meeting, I understand next week. We have both tasked our ministers to be ambitious about where we can get to. And I think we will be able to get a lot further in a bilateral sense with India and Australia together. And the Prime Minister and I share that objective,” said Morrison. Talking about challenges to get the right deal, he said, “We want the right deal for both countries. And, so we will continue to be patient about it and take the gains where we can take them and see this as a road that we are on and we will just keep adding and adding and adding I think to the strength of that Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement that we’re seeking.”
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India, Australia consider Quad needed to maintain balance in relation with China, says Scott Morrison
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday said that Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is a necessary group to balance China’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region. Talking about the defence military cooperation between Quad countries comprising of India, Australia, US and Japan, Morrison in an online briefing with the Indian media said, “India and Australia consider it as something that needs to be balanced in relation to China.” Recently, some of the senior Chinese officials have made statements to the effect that they see Quad grouping as a means of countering the growing Chinese influence in the region. Talking about the issue, the Australian PM said that the objective of working together is to ensure and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. During the first in-person Quad Leaders’ Summit held recently, a range of issues were discussed including Afghanistan, cooperation in infrastructure, COVID-19 vaccines, and the Indo-Pacific. Morrison also welcomed China to participate, he said, “Everybody who wants to participate in that, including China, is a welcome partner in that cause. We don’t really want to see the region in such binary terms. That’s not how the Quad is approaching the challenges that we see in the region. Of course, we want to deter any type of behaviour that threatens peace and security in the region, that threatens the development and prosperity of countries in the region, or in any way seeks to limit their sovereignty or their access to the freedoms that exist under international law.” He said that the basis of the Quad partnership is a free and open Indo-Pacific. “And I would hope and expect and think that’s what China would be seeking for the Indo-Pacific. See, certainly from Australia’s perspective and I would be so bold to assume that this would be India’s view, too. We are not seeking in any way to constrain China’s growth.” “But, it’s important that as countries develop and as they grow, that they continue to be a positive and supportive influence in the region for peace and stability, and that the respect is there for all other countries in the Indo-Pacific, for their own sovereignty,” added Australian PM. He said that all the countries in the region and different, and they do not have the same political systems and outlooks. “There are many countries with many different systems of government,” he said. “We have a very multilateral view of the Indo-Pacific, not a binary one,” added Morrison. He also said that he is looking forward to meeting Japan’s new Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, once installed by the Diet, for him taking up his chair within the Quad partnership. Moreover, Quad is also going deeper into critical and emerging technologies, and particularly rare earth, and the supply chain for rare earth and critical minerals that runs right across to the end, to the end-user.
