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India’s consul-general Dantu Charandasi tours the Mid West to meet with local leaders

Michael RobertsMidwest Times
City of Greater Geraldton councillor Natasha Colliver, Mid West Indian Cultural Society’s Hari Kumar, Consul General of India for Western Australia Dantu Charanadasi, City of Geraldton Deputy Mayor Jerry Clune and Geraldton MP Lara Dalton.
Camera IconCity of Greater Geraldton councillor Natasha Colliver, Mid West Indian Cultural Society’s Hari Kumar, Consul General of India for Western Australia Dantu Charanadasi, City of Geraldton Deputy Mayor Jerry Clune and Geraldton MP Lara Dalton. Credit: Michael Roberts/The Geraldton Guardian

India’s consul-general has visited Geraldton for the first time.

Dantu Charandasi, India’s highest-ranking diplomat in WA met members from the Midwest Multicultural Association and Midwest Indian Cultural Society at a morning tea on Saturday.

City of Greater Geraldton deputy mayor Jerry Clune presented Ms Charandasi with a photography book of the Coral Coast by Debra Mitchell, while member for Geraldton Lara Dalton gave her the history book Jambinbirri-Champion Bay by Howard Gray.

In a time of harsh border restrictions Ms Dalton said it was a rare treat to connect with international partners.

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“I’m finding that these lovely occasions of coming together in our own communities and meeting with our friends from different countries and other cultures is the extension of hopping on a plane and going to see them,” she said.

Jerry Clune presents Dantu Charanadasi with a photography book of the Coral Coast by Debra Mitchell.
Camera IconJerry Clune presents Dantu Charanadasi with a photography book of the Coral Coast by Debra Mitchell. Credit: Michael Roberts/The Geraldton Guardian

International relations between Australia and India were strengthened last year when the two countries signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to take the bilateral relationship to “a new level of co-operation”.

Under the agreement, foreign and defence ministers will meet every two years to discuss strategic issues and each country can use the other’s military bases.

Ms Charandasi said Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had developed a “very positive rapport” that would help develop relations further.

“The whole world is looking towards India with new hopes,” she said.

“In many ways we are walking towards a new India ... and we want Australia to be a part of it.”

Ms Charandasi said she would like to see more trade between the close strategic partners.

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