India, Australia seek closer ties of Indian Ocean countries

India and Australia have agreed to boost trade and security cooperation among countries in the Indian Ocean region, reported Indo-Asian News Service Thursday. India and Australia view the Indian Ocean as a potential area for greater cooperation among the countries of the region, said Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna weeks before India assumes the chair of the 18-nation Indian Ocean Rim - Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC), according to the report. Krishna made the statement after holding talks with Australian officials in Perth Wednesday. Australia will also take over as the vice-chair of this crucial regional association. "We have to work closely together to realize the potential of IOR-ARC and also to transform it into an active and vibrant forum, " Krishna was quoted as saying. He also said the southern Indian city Bangalore will host the 11th IOR-ARC Council of Ministers Meeting later this year. The IOR-ARC includes countries stretching from South Africa in the west to Australia in the east. China, Japan, Egypt, France and Britain have the status of dialogue partners in the grouping.