On Thursday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison spoke to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about Facebook “unfriending” Australia in response to the government’s news media bargaining code, among other joint issues.
In light of the popular social media platform’s ban on news in Australia, Mr Morrison discussed the “progress of Australia’s media platform bill” with Mr Modi, according to an official source.
Earlier today, in a press conference held at Sydney’s RPA hospital, Prime Minister Morrison said he had spoken to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as Prime Minister Modi about Australia’s next step.
“People are looking at what Australia is doing,” the Prime Minister said regarding Australia’s pioneer attempt at taxing Facebook for using news content, and future negotiations with the tech giant.
Moreover, as Comprehensive Strategic Partners, the two leaders also agreed to work together on common challenges, including “COVID-19, the circular economy, oceans and an open, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific”, the official source stated.
Additionally, India’s cricket victory also came up during the discussion.
Spoke with my good friend PM @ScottMorrisonMP today. Reiterated our commitment to consolidating our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Also discussed regional issues of common interest. Look forward to working together for peace, prosperity and security in the Indo-Pacific.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 18, 2021
Mr Modi’s tweet comes just before the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (or Quad), which is due to hold its third meeting to discuss practical cooperation for maintaining a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.
Over the scheduled call, Mr Modi also renewed the invitation for his “good friend” Mr Morrison to visit India.
In July last year, the two country leaders held a virtual bilateral summit wherein they announced the elevation of bilateral ties to a ‘comprehensive strategic partnership’.
Additionally, Prime Minister Morrison’s scheduled virtual calls with world leaders have escalated in frequency in order to discuss and resolve challenges over the course of the pandemic, according to the official source.
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