UPDATE - India, Australia move toward cooperation on clean energy

UPDATES WITH INDIAN PM MODI'S COMMENTS, ADDS MORE DETAILS, REVISES DECK, EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) – Australia and India on Wednesday signed terms of reference of a joint green hydrogen task force aimed to meet the energy targets of both countries.

The signing came as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese held a bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in Sydney.

Both leaders welcomed the finalization of the terms of reference of the task force, "which will advise on opportunities to accelerate manufacture and deployment of clean hydrogen, focusing on hydrogen electrolysers, fuel cells as well as supporting infrastructure and standards and regulations," the Indian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

At a joint press briefing, Albanese said the task force will be made up of Australian and Indian experts in renewable hydrogen and report to the Australian-Indian Ministerial Energy Dialogue.

"Investments like the task force will help power our industries in the future, and ensure that Australia and India meet our energy targets in the interests of both our respective countries, but also in support of reduction of global emissions," said Albanese.

Both the countries also signed the Australia-India Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement.

"This arrangement will promote the exchange of students, graduates, researchers, and businesspeople, expand our people-to-people ties, and enhance cooperation in preventing people smuggling," said the Australian prime minister.

- 'Separatist elements'

Modi said he discussed the issue of attacks on temples in Australia, and activities of "separatist" elements with Albanese.

He argued that "any (separatist) elements" that "harm the friendly and warm" ties between India and Australia "by their actions or thoughts" will not be accepted.

"I thank the prime minister (Albanese) for the actions that have already been taken. He has once again assured me today that he will take strict actions against such elements in the future also," the Indian premier added.

Pro-Khalistan protests had erupted at Indian diplomatic missions in several countries after Indian police launched an operation to arrest separatist leader Amritpal Singh, who renewed calls for an independent Sikh homeland. He was arrested on April 23 after a month-long manhunt.

A part of India’s Sikh community launched the Khalistan movement in the late 1970s, triggering a wave of deadly violence that claimed thousands of lives in Punjab, where Sikhs are in majority.

While Sikh secessionism has largely died down in India, pro-Khalistan groups have remained active internationally.

Modi arrived in Sydney on Monday as part of the third and final leg of his three-nation tour after visiting Papua New Guinea and Japan. This was his second visit to Australia as the prime minister.

- ‘India: The Modi Question’

As Modi wrapped up his tour, BBC documentary, India: The Modi Question, was screened at the Australian parliament in Canberra.

The two-part documentary, which focuses on Modi's role in the 2002 Gujarat riots, was banned in several Indian institutions immediately after its release in January.