NEW DELHI: As Narendra Modi arrived in Brisbane on Friday to take part in his maiden G20 Summit and bilateral trip to Australia -- first by an Indian PM in 28 years -- he has competition at hand from Chinese President Xi Jinping who is also on official trip to the country with a similar goal of expanding economic and energy partnership with Canberra and expanding footprints in the Pacific region.
But it is not Australia alone. Xi will follow Modi to Fiji after his trips to Australia and New Zealand in a nine-day trip to these three countries, sources in the Chinese government said. And Modi is not alone who will address the Joint Session of the Australian Parliament. Xi as well as British PM David Cameron too will have that honour, officials from Canberra said.
The Fiji leg of the tour will be somewhat similar for the Indian PM and Chinese President where they both meet leaders of the Pacific Islands besides the hosts as part of Delhi's and Beijing's strategy to expand respective footprints in the Pacific region, sources informed. China has already emerged as one of the key donors for the Pacific nations, officials well versed with the region pointed out. Delhi's advantage in Fiji, however, is the People of Indian origin there who comprises nearly 38 per cent of the total population.
The importance attached by China to Xi's visit is evident from the high profile party delegation that is accompanying him. His entourage includes Wang Huning, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Wang Yang, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice premier, State Councilor Yang Jiechi and Zhou Xiaochuan, head of the People's Bank of China, Chinese government sources said.
While Modi will be a four-day four city tour of Australia that includes public address to the Indian community at Sydney, public reception at Melbourne by the host PM, Parliament address besides serious bilateral dialogue to expand economic and security ties besides G20 summit, Xi will be on a visit to not so famous Australian island state of Tasmania where China is involved in several mining projects, officials in Australian government said. In fact China has been involved in several mining projects across Australia to meet its growing demands compared to India's not so big presence in the key sector in that country. However, Modi, who is being accompanied an influential business delegation would give a fillip to India's bigger involvement in this sector in Australia.
While Modi is keen to make this trip historic by exploring avenues to upgrade bilateral ties in sphere of trade, investments and security and sell soft power, Xi's stay will be marked by hard power that will see conclusion of a free-trade agreement and unveiling of Sydney as a renminbi trading hub. Australian government sources told ET that Canberra expects that bilateral FTA with Delhi will concluded before end of 2015.
Xi is more familiar with Australia than most world leaders, having first visited in 1988 as 34-year-old vice-mayor of Xiamen city. After stopping by in Tasmania on this trip, his fifth to the country, he will have visited all eight states and territories. He arrives in Australia on the back of APEC, where a display of diplomacy, deal-making and ambition reflected China's influence on the international stage.
However, it this ambition of Beijing in economy but more so in strategic sphere that is drawing India and Australia closer. Officials said Modi and Australian PM Tony Abbott would spend considerable time in deliberating on expanding maritime security and multilateral security dialogue. Australia wants to join US-India-Japan dialogue to make it quadrilateral. Defence is a growing area of cooperation with two countries set to hold maiden naval exercise next year. Delhi and Canberra are eyeing closer maritime security cooperation in India Ocean Region and Pacific theatre with growing demand for Indo-Pacific region instead of Asia-Pacific to reflect present day realities.
