New Delhi, July 8 -- Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's much-anticipated visit to Australia and New Zealand, former diplomat Vidya Bhushan Soni on Wednesday said that the visit will renew India's links in the region, which now also hosts a sizeable Indian diaspora. He said that the visit will also focus on maritime security and reflect India's Act East Policy in action in the wake of rising military presence of China and a lack of Washington's warmth in the region.

Speaking to ANI, the former envoy underlined the importance of renewing the ties with Australia and New Zealand as they are "a little disappointed by the lack of warmth in US policies towards the Pacific region... From our point of view, we renew links with Australia and ...