AKIPRESS.COM - The first trilateral dialogue between France, India and Australia was held through videoconference on 9th September 2020, the French Embassy in New Delhi said.

The trilateral dialogue helped underscore the goal of guaranteeing peace, security and adherence to international law in the Indo-Pacific by drawing on the excellence of bilateral relations between France, India and Australia.

Co-chaired by François Delattre, Secretary General - Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Foreign Secretary - Ministry of External Affairs of India, and Ms Frances Adamson, Secretary - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia, the dialogue aimed at exchanging views on strengthening cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

On this occasion, France, India and Australia discussed geostrategic challenges, their respective strategies for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, and prospects for cooperation in the region, especially in the context of the public health crisis. They expressed their shared will to successfully conclude concrete cooperation projects in the maritime sector and those promoting global commons (climate, environment and biodiversity, health). The three countries also discussed the challenges and priorities of multilateralism, as well as upholding and reforming it.

The trilateral dialogue helped underscore the goal of guaranteeing peace, security and adherence to international law in the Indo-Pacific by drawing on the excellence of bilateral relations between France, India and Australia. The three parties agreed to hold this dialogue on a regular basis.