
6 minute read
A powerful partnership
from 2014-12 Melbourne
by Indian Link
India and Australia agree on a new security cooperation framework
Inclia and Australia marked a new synergy in bilateral relations as they agteed on a framework for security co o peration to boost defence, c ivil nuclear and economic ties even as pj\,f N arendra 1fodi ended h is hectic five-day, four-city v isit of Australia.
The cwo countries .signed five agreements, including one on exchange of sentenced prisoners, whil e Modi also addressed die Australian parlian1enc, me first lndian prime minister to do so. After talks w im Prime :Minister Abbott in Canberra, both countries agreed to seek early closure on their civil nuclear agreement and co speed up negotiations on a b ilateral trade pace.
lnclia and Australia also agreed o n a framework for .securiry cooperation to reaffirm me bilateral strategic partnership. le calls international fora ys like the East As ia Summit, me G20 and me lnclian Ocean association.
Abbott said after the bilateral talks that Australia "will export uranium to India under su itab le safegnards, of course".
In a take -off on their close sporting links, Abbott referred to die BJP goverru1iem's strong niajority in parliament, "Modi has the runs on di e board for getting the bureaucracy working (to get an y job done)."
In Melbourne, Mocli addressed business honchos, includ ing mining magnate Gina Rinehart, saying mat bis cover other transnational crimes, including ongoing cooperation on illegal rnigra tion.
Both prime minister s directed that an equitable, balanced, mutuall y beneficial and high quality Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement be brought to an early conclusion. It said the Framework for Security Cooperation showed ''the unshakeable resolve of the two countries in combating and defeating terrorism, inducting threats posed by foreign fighters joining extremist groups".
The Aus tralian government will a lso relax visa restrictions for skilled migrants, in an effort to make die country more competitive A temporary work v isa, the 457 visa allows skilled workers to come to Australia and work for au appro ved business for up to four years.
Prime Nlinister Tony Abbort, a.long wid1 Trade while not p lacing unnecessary ad ministrative burdens on business," the statement said. In a separate development, d1e government will introduce a new Premium Inv estor Visa (PlV), which offers a faster 12-month pathway co Permanent Australian residency than the existing Significant Inves tor Visa. government was nnderra.lcing reforms to enhance die ease of doing business i n l nclia.
J\ joint statement said that the existing Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism would be renamed to
:t:,,[inister Andrew Robb, and Immigration and Border Protection Minister, Scott Morrison, announced several measmes wh ich will make i t easier for Australian businesses to employ skilled migrants.
"The 45 7 program must be a means of filling genuine skills gaps in die local labour market for annual prime minisceria.l meetings, regular defence ministers' meetings and annual defence policy talks, and regular bilateral maritime exercises.
Both sides will cooperate to counter-terrorism. Australia will support Indian membership of d1e export control regin1es. Ir also calls for " early operationalisation of civil nuclear energy cooperation and Australia's support for strengthening India's energy security by supply of uraninn1 for India's safeguarded nuclear reactors".
Mocli said the t\.vo counu·ies had agreed to speed up negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Paru1ership Agreement.
He sought easier access for lnclian business to the Australian market and quicker investment approvals.
Modi said both sides need to strengthen their security cooperation to combat terrorism and cooperate closely in
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'\'ibetans in Australia
Young and talented Bollywood singer Arijit Singh performed his hit numbers
The crowd was restless.
The evening began wi th the dance troupe
Ja!iJJa performing to a fu sion of B-Town hits, but the audie nc e. wanted to see the musical genius.
As MC Sunny V interacted witl1 the audience, a spotlight foc u ssed on the stage and someone seemed to appear out of nowhere. lt was tl1e man himsel f - Arijit S ingh.
Festival HaU in Melbourne indeed turned 'festive' as Singh's a:acks ec h oed throughout ilie venue wi th e1n1bera nce.
Arijit !mows his fa n s well, and his repertoire comprised a selectio n of his m ost popu lar songs. The show started with Tum bi ho the 'Love An th em' that fetched him h is enormous success
There was h ooting, cheering and thunderous app lause as he continued singing all his recent h its li ke Hai dii]eb 111Crt1, Sa11ffhavaa11 an d Kabbijo hadai harse
"/lap kn !Jrics)'aad kaise rebte hai, 1J1ain aksar bbooljaata bu," he said modestl y to tile audience iliac sang a lo n g w ith him
After a series of e m otionstrung melodies, there came a sudden s hift co some foot-tapping numbets quite different from his forte of b reezy, so ft songs
A string of numbers foll owed in clnding tl1e likes of Be i11tcbaa11, Senorita, ]!)'a re and Tllahi The western influences made t he renditions by Arijit Singh a lot m ore enjoyable for the contemporary audie nc e in Aostralia
Besides being an acclaimed singer, d1e remarkably talented guitarist came ro the li m elight after d1e 2005 reality show f">ame G,m1k11!
After an initial struggle, Arijit's career rook a leap with his debut Pbin11ob,1bhal in 2011 - 12. After th e stupendous success of Aasbiq11i 2 in 2 013- 14, t here has been n o looki n g back fo r d1is yo ung singing sensation.
Ar ijir performed n on-stop, ent!Jrallin g fans wi d1 his smile mroughout the evening, without a ny dip in h is seemingly e n dless ene rgr
He surprised d1e audience with a spo ntaneous medley of so m e aU- time favouri tes in cluding Pehla 11a.sha, Jo waada kfya wo, Teri deetJJani, La,igi t11111se 111ar111 ki l11ga11, Knbbi aana t11 by Euphoria and many other yesteryear classi cs, while me audience. joined in wiili en tlrnsiasm and sang along.
A glowing p layback singer, Supriya Pathak, lent h er melodious voice to the duets
Organiser Rup esh Sing h , music direc tor Aadesh Srivastava and
Ed u cation Ce n tre of AustraLi a, together turned the event in to a grand success.
Spea king at me event, Sr ivastava announced iliac an Indian music college is in tl1e pipeline to en courage fresh talent in Melbourne.
Arij it sang the soulful Kabirn to e n d the show, receiving a gran d standin g ovation He left the stage b lowing kisses an d bowing to the audience And then, as swiftly as he had appeared, he was gon e.
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