In a significant move on the global stage, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a groundbreaking trilateral partnership aimed at boosting technological collaboration among democratic nations. The announcement was made on Saturday from Johannesburg, where the G20 Leaders' Summit is currently underway.
A New Era of Trilateral Cooperation
Following a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, PM Modi took to social media to unveil the Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership. This initiative marks a strategic alignment between three major democracies spanning three different continents and oceans.
"We are delighted to announce an Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership today," the Prime Minister stated in his post. The meeting, held on the sidelines of the G20 summit, underscores a shared commitment to addressing global challenges through innovation.
Key Focus Areas of the ACITI Partnership
The partnership is designed to foster deep collaboration in several critical and future-oriented sectors. According to PM Modi, the initiative will have a multi-pronged approach:
- Advancing Emerging Technologies: The partnership will serve as a platform for joint research and development in cutting-edge fields.
- Strengthening Supply Chains: A core objective is to support the diversification and resilience of global supply chains, reducing dependencies on single sources.
- Promoting Clean Energy: Collaborative efforts will be directed towards accelerating the transition to sustainable and clean energy solutions.
- Mass Adoption of AI: The trio aims to work together on the responsible development and widespread implementation of Artificial Intelligence.
This collaboration is expected to create new avenues for economic growth and technological sovereignty among the partner nations.
Modi's Diplomatic Engagements at the G20
Beyond the trilateral announcement, Prime Minister Modi's schedule in Johannesburg was packed with high-level diplomatic engagements. Separately on Saturday, he held meetings with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.
Reflecting on his discussion with the UK leader, Modi noted, "It was wonderful meeting Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Johannesburg. This year has brought new energy to the India–UK partnership and we will keep driving it forward across many domains."
His conversation with the UN chief was described as "very productive," focusing on issues of mutual global concern.
During the opening session of the G20 Leaders' Meeting, Prime Minister Modi also put forth substantial proposals for global governance. He called for a fundamental rethink of global development parameters and proposed the establishment of two key initiatives: a G20 initiative to counter the dangerous nexus between drugs and terrorism, and a global healthcare response team to better prepare for future health crises.
The announcement of the ACITI partnership, coupled with these other engagements, highlights India's proactive and leadership role in shaping international cooperation on technology, security, and health.
