Australia
Australia clarifies it did not participate in China-Indian Ocean Forum on Development Cooperation
Australia on Sunday clarified it did not participate in the "China-Indian Ocean Forum on Development Cooperation" on Nov 21.
Australia's High Commissioner to India, Barry O'Farrell tweeted: " Contrary to media reporting, no Australian Government official attended the Kunming China-Indian Ocean Forum on Development Cooperation. "
Contrary to media reporting, no Australian Government official attended the Kunming China-Indian Ocean Forum on Development Cooperation. (1/2) @DrSJaishankar @SenatorWong @MEAIndia @rajnathsingh @RichardMarlesMP @TimWattsMP @dfat @DefenceAust @DefenceMinIndia #Kunming
— Barry O’Farrell AO (@AusHCIndia) November 27, 2022
"Pleased @TimWattsMP attended #IORA Ministerial Council last week, the only ministerial-level forum for Indian Ocean. was delighted ’s application for Vice Chair was accepted by consensus. We share an enduring interest: a free, open, rules-based & secure Indo-Pacific," he added.
While Canberra was invited for the meet by Beijing, Australia, a member of Quad (comprising Australia, Japan, India and the US) declined to participate in the China-led Indian Ocean Forum meet, reports ANI.
Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs also denied participating in the event.
Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement as quoted by ANI: "The Ministry would like to clarify, that the Government of the Maldives did not participate in the above-mentioned Forum, and communicated its decision not to participate to the Embassy of the People's Republic of China to the Maldives on November 15, 2022."
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
