India and Australia agreed to Concentrate on Energy and Food Security

India and Australia on 28 January 2013 agreed to concentrate on priority areas like energy and food security for mutual benefit of the two countries. At the 14th Session of the India - Australia Joint Ministerial Commission held in New Delhi, the two sides underlined the importance of a solid institutional framework to facilitate future growth in bilateral trade and investment. The Commission was co-chaired by Minister of Commerce, Industry and Textiles Anand Sharma and his Australian counterpart, Craig Emerson.  India and Australia welcomed the positive momentum in the India-Australia relationship, based on shared values, converging interests and growth in economic links. The successful state visit to India by Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard in October 2012 underlined both countries deep commitment to advance the Strategic Partnership agreed in November 2009. The Minister for External Affairs, Salman Khurshid, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr, held the 8th Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue on the 21 January 2013, to review the bilateral relations and build on the momentum achieved by Prime Minister Gillard’s visit. The two countries also met at Ministerial level to advance Agriculture, Energy, Education and Science & Technology links.