Australian Defence Minister Kevin Andrews meets External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj (PTI Photo)
India today conveyed to Australia its eagerness to conclude negotiations for early implementation of the bilateral nuclear deal besides pushing for joint production of defence equipment.
In her talks with Australian Defence Minister Kevin Andrews, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj particularly emphasised on scope for nuclear cooperation between the two countries and said the atomic deal must be taken forward.
Both Ms Swaraj and Mr Andrews also discussed first ever naval joint exercise to be held later this month at the Bay of Bengal.
Ms Swaraj told the Australian minister that both the countries should go for joint production of defence equipment under "Make in India" initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
She also called for implementation of decisions taken during Modi's visit to Australia in November last year.
Ms Swaraj said India was keen on early implementation of the nuclear deal signed last year.
The Australia-India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement signed in September last year will provide a framework for greater cooperation between both the countries on a broad range of nuclear-related areas, such as nuclear safety, production of radioisotopes and regulatory and technological advances in the nuclear fuel cycle.
India and Australia, which has about a third of the world's recoverable uranium resources and exports nearly 7,000 tonnes of it a year, had first launched talks on uranium sales in 2012 after Canberra lifted a long-time ban on exporting the valuable yellowcake to Delhi to meet its ambitious nuclear energy programme.