Map 6.4: Australia

3.1. Background

♤ The India-Australia bilateral relationship has undergone evolution in recent years, developing along a positive track, into a friendly partnership.

♤ The two nations have much in common, underpinned by shared values of a pluralistic, Westminster-style democracies, Commonwealth traditions, expanding economic engagement and increasing high level interaction.

♤ Their several commonalities including strong, vibrant, secular and multicultural democracies, free press, independent judicial system and English language, serve as a foundation for a closer co-operation and multifaceted interaction.

♤ The long-standing people-to-people ties, ever increasing Indian students going to Australia for higher education, growing tourism and sporting links, especially Cricket and Hockey, have played a significant role in further strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.