S Jaishankar, India’s foreign minister, met with Marise Payne, Australia’s foreign minister, on Saturday. They talked about when Indian students can return to Australia for further education. The Australian foreign minister stated that the country is following the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity’s methodology. Travel to and from Australia has been hampered by the Covid-19 limitations, according to Foreign Minister Payne.
Key Highlights
- India’s foreign minister met with Marise Payne, Australia’s foreign minister.
- They talked about when Indian students can return to Australia for further education.
- Travel to and from Australia has been hampered by the Covid-19 limitations.
- The Australian foreign minister stated that the country is following the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity’S methodology for reopening.
- “As soon as feasible, we will welcome back Indian students.
- Where I live and work, the diaspora is visible and quite active (Western Sydney),” Payne added.
S Jaishankar, the Union foreign minister, said on Saturday that he and his Australian counterpart Marise Payne had had extensive discussions about when Indian students can return to Australia to pursue higher education at Australian universities.
The Australian foreign minister stated that the government is following the model proposed by the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and that once the Australian government has vaccinated its citizens to a certain level, it will be able to decide on reopening in a way that will allow foreign students to return to the Australian campuses where they had enrolled for studies.
“Our approach in Australia was based on Doherty Institute research and modeling, which provided us with a four-phase roadmap for responding to Covid and progressing through and out of the constraints in place. We’re on our way to vaccinating Australians to the point where we’ll be able to reopen with the confidence that students will be able to return in phases 3 and 4. Payne remarked at a press briefing following the India-Australia 2+2 ministerial meeting, “There is a common desire on both sides to see that travel resumed.”
According to Jaishankar, problems with students returning to their institutions or enrolling in courses they have been accepted are unique to Australia. They exist in the United States and Canada. He stated that while problems with the American authorities have been resolved to some extent, there are still some issues with the Canadian government. He went on to say that the Centre places a significant premium on issues concerning higher education in other countries.
“It’s completely understandable that students and their parents are frustrated. Students desired to be in the institutions where they were or were now enrolled. We talked about it in-depth today. Minister Payne also informed me of Australia’s position on the situation,” Jaishankar added.
Payne also stated that she is one of the “most passionate proponents” of welcoming back “our much-loved Indian pupils.” “As soon as feasible, we will welcome back Indian students. Where I live and work, the diaspora is visible and quite active (Western Sydney). “We truly miss their engagements,” Payne added.
Payne further stated that Australia had around 60,000 students. “I completely appreciate students’ desire to gain on-campus and in-country experience. Travel to and from Australia has been hindered by the Covid-19 restrictions, even for Australians. “Quarantine regulations apply to even ministers like us,” Payne said.
Australia & India are longstanding partners. In our meeting with 🇮🇳 Prime Minister @narendramodi, we discussed our nations' shared commitment to a rules-based international order, an open, inclusive & resilient #IndoPacific & strengthening the 🇦🇺🇮🇳 economic relationship. pic.twitter.com/cuRFEM80ww
— Marise Payne (@MarisePayne) September 11, 2021
