External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday (July 29) met his Australian counterpart Penny Wong and discussed steps to boost bilateral ties, including in security, trade and education, and also deepening practical cooperation across the Indo-Pacific. Both the leaders are in Tokyo to attend a meeting of foreign ministers of four-nation grouping Quad or Quadrilateral coalition.
"Spoke about further steps to intensify our bilateral ties including in security, trade and education. Also discussed deepening our practical cooperation across the Indo-Pacific. Look forward to continuing this at the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting shortly," he added.
Quad comprises of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States.
In November 2017, the four nations gave shape to the long-pending proposal of setting up the Quad to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence.
On Sunday, Jaishankar held "wide-ranging" talks with his American counterpart Antony Blinken against the backdrop of an unease in India-US ties following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Russia three weeks back.
Earlier in the day he also unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi at Freedom Plaza in Edogawa, Tokyo. Jaishankar arrived in Japan on Sunday from Laos for a two-day visit for the Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting.
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