Australia announces Philip Green as country’s next High Commissioner to India

Australia has announced Philip Green as the country’s next High Commissioner to India.

“Today, I announce the appointment of Mr Philip Green as Australia’s next High Commissioner to India. The High Commissioner to India is also accredited to the Kingdom of Bhutan,” said Australia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong, in an official media release. As per the release, Philip Green is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently Australia’s Ambassador to Germany. He has previously served overseas as Australia’s High Commissioner to Singapore, to South Africa, and to Kenya.

According to Penny Wong, the Australia-India relationship has never been closer, the two countries share perspectives, challenges, and democratic heritage.

Penny Wong said that Australia and India are working together through the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and as Quad partners, to promote a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, where sovereignty is respected.

The Australian Foreign Minister further said: “Along with our deepening defence and security cooperation, Australia and India have a mutually beneficial economic partnership, which will expand as we work towards finalising an ambitious Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement.”

Penny Wong then expressed gratitude to the outgoing Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O’Farrell for his contribution to advancing Australia’s interests in India since 2020.

Meanwhile, Australian Deputy High Commissioner to India, Sarah Storey, recently said that her country is proud that India chose to do Free trade agreement with them, and it will definitely boost ‘Make in India’.

“We are proud that the Government of India chose to do free trade agreement with Australia. Now 96 per cent of Indian goods enter Australia tariff-free and 86 per cent of Australian goods enter India tariff-free. This will support the ‘Make in India’ Program for competitive Indian goods. We all believe in this relationship and there is so much more that we can do,” Storey told ANI.

On the bond between the two nations, she added that the relationship has been elevated to strategic and comprehensive partnerships between the two countries.

Earlier, on May 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese at Admiralty House in Sydney, Australia.

Both the leaders discussed various matters pertaining to global and bilateral interest reform of the UN Security Council, Indo-Pacific and the G20 Summit that New Delhi is hosting later this year. Both sides reiterated their shared ambition for an early conclusion of the Australia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement later this year, and PM Modi also raised issues related to attacks on temples in Australia and activities of separatist elements.

“The two leaders reiterated their determination to ensure a peaceful, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific region underpinned by a rules-based international order. They also discussed reform of UN Security Council,” an MEA statement said.

Anthony Albanese expressed Australia’s strong support for India’s G20 Presidency and initiatives.

PM Modi “looked forward to welcoming” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September 2023, the MEA statement said.

Moreover, PM Modi was accorded a Ceremonial Welcome and Guard of Honour on arrival at Admiralty House.

India and Australia, on May 24, signed agreements in the field of migration and mobility partnership and on the Green Hydrogen task force.

The Memorandum of Understandings were exchanged after a bilateral meeting between the two Prime Ministers.

In a statement after the meeting, PM Modi said the India-Australia ties are based on mutual trust and confidence. He said they have constructive discussions on strengthening strategic cooperation in mining and critical minerals. He added that the discussion was held on taking India-Australia’s comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights.