Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar and Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra at the inaugural “2+2 dialogue” with Australia in New Delhi on December 12, 2017. Photo: @MEAIndiamore-inContinuing with the strategic bilateral discussion, Australia and India on Tuesday discussed the need to maintain the Asia-Pacific region as a “free” and “open” zone under the “2+2” dialogue model which includes the foreign and defence secretaries of both sides. The discussion was the first meeting of this level since the two sides participated in the quadrilateral discussion for a new strategic partnership targeting the Asia-Pacific region. Freedom of navigationThe “2+2” dialogue of Tuesday was held between Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar and Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra and their Australian counterparts Frances Adamson and Greg Moriarty. “All aspects of bilateral relations with a focus on strategic and defence relations between the two countries were reviewed,” the MEA said.

Source: The Hindu December 12, 2017 18:33 UTC