‘Alerted Australia PM Albanese of temple attacks, he assured me safety of Indian community a priority,’ says PM Modi

Calling security cooperation an “important pillar in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Australia”, PM Modi said both countries discussed maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region during their talks. “Our teams are working on a comprehensive economic agreement between our two countries,” he added.

Meanwhile, Albanese said that the two leaders had agreed on an early conclusion of their “ambitious” Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement. “Today, PM Modi and I agreed on an early conclusion of our ambitious Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement as soon as possible. I am hopeful that we will be able to finalise it this year,” he said.

On the second day of his diplomatic visit to India, Albanese  was accorded a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi.

“I thank PM Modi for a very warm welcome here. Australia and India are great friends. We are partners and we are building that partnership even stronger each and every day,” Albanese said speaking to reporters at Rashtrapati Bhawan. “We are competing on the cricket field to be the world’s best but together we are building a better world.”

His remarks come a day after the two world leaders watched the first day of the India-Australia Test match at Motera’s Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Australia PM in India: What’s on his agenda today?

Albanese’s second day in India is jam-packed with high-level talks on a range of issues aimed at further boosting the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations. He also met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday morning, and is slated to call on President Droupadi Murmu later in the day.

After his meeting with Jaishankar, Albanese met PM Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.

The two leaders are expected to discuss trade, investment, defence, education and renewable energy. They are also expected to review the situation in the Indo-Pacific amid growing concerns over China’s increasing military assertiveness in the region, sources told news agency PTI.

PM Albanese will also call on President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhawan later this evening.

Albanese pays tribute to Gandhi

The Australian Prime Minister began his day by paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. Soon after, he received a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, where he also inspected the Guard of Honour.

“I thank PM Modi, for a very extraordinarily, generously and warm welcome here. Australia and India are great friends. We are partners and we are building that partnership even stronger each and every day,” said Australian PM Albanese.

With agency inputs

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