India 2018

320 India 2018
successful in highlighting Pakistan's role in supporting terror in Jammu and
Kashmir and in combating its efforts to glorify terrorists.
Sri Lanka: India-Sri Lanka relations were marked by regular high level
exchanges, accelerated progress on projects and a synergy in objectives relating
to maintenance of peace and security in the Indian Ocean. The year also saw a
number of ministerial level visits between the countries in furtherance of the
direction given at the highest political levels. Indian EAM visited Sri Lanka in
2017 and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, visited India in 2017. Prime
Minister of Sri Lanka, visited India in 2017, and discussed a range of bilateral
issues and matters of mutual interest with his Indian counterport.
IOR: India has intensified its engagement with member countries of Indian
Ocean Rim Association (IORA). At the first IORA Summit which was held in
Indonesia in March 2017, India announced several initiatives covering diverse
sectors including water, renewable energy, women's empowerment and
maritime security.
South-East Asia and the Asia-Pacific
Australia: India Australia bilateral relations made rapid strides in a broad range
of areas including trade and investment, defence and security, education and
skills, energy and resources, science and technology, water resource management
etc. During his state visit to India in April 2017, Australian Prime Minister held
bilateral discussions with Indian leaders and bilateral agreements on cooperation
in combating international terrorism & transnational organized crime, health,
sports, environment, climate and wildlife, civil aviation and space technology
were signed. Confluence, a widely acclaimed Festival of India was held in seven
cities of Australia from August to November, 2016 which featured more than
70 events showcasing Indian culture, arts, dance, Bollywood and culinary skills.
Australia returned 3 antique artefacts - illegally smuggled from India and
inadvertently acquired by National Gallery of Australia - to India.
Indonesia: The state visit of Indonesian President to India in December, 2016
was an important event in the development of bilateral relations between two
countries and has provided the necessary momentum to the bilateral relations.
Ongoing activities of defence cooperation received further impetus with the
visit of Chief of Naval Staff from both side and reciprocal study tours by the
National Defence College and LEMHANAS. With a bilateral trade of US$ 15.9
billion in 2015-16, Indonesia has emerged as the largest trading partner for India
in the ASEAN region.
Malaysia: Bilateral relations with Malaysia, which were imparted a strong
impetus and given the status of 'Enhanced Strategic Partnership' during the
visit of Indian PM to Malaysia in November, 2015, continued to grow in range
and depth over a cross section of areas including but not limited to trade,
economy, education, culture, defence cooperation, deradicalisation and
counterterrorism. There were exchanges of high level visits including that of
Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Minister of International Trade &