’Honoured to host…’ Australian PM Anthony Albanese welcomes Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed PM Narendra Modi for a two-day visit to the country starting today. Prime Minister Albanese also remembered the ‘extremely warm welcome’ he received in India earlier this year. 

As per a release from the Australian government, Prime Minister Albanese said, "I am honoured to host Prime Minister Modi for an official visit to Australia, after receiving an extremely warm welcome in India earlier this year."

“Australia and India share a commitment to a stable, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Together we have an important role to play in supporting this vision. As friends and partners, the relationship between our countries has never been closer. I look forward to celebrating Australia’s vibrant Indian community with Prime Minister Modi in Sydney.”

According to the Australian Prime Minister's Office, the two leaders will discuss trade and investment during their meeting and will focus on efforts to boost trade between Australia and India through a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement. The two Prime Ministers will also seek to strengthen people-to-people linkages and look to cooperate on areas such as renewable energy, and defence and security cooperation.

Taking forward the legacy of the Australia-India CEO Forum held in Mumbai this year, PM Modi will meet with Australian business leaders. He will also attend an event in Sydney to celebrate ‘Australia’s dynamic and diverse Indian diaspora’.

Prime Minister Modi is visiting Australia after a gap of 9 years, he last visited the country in 2014. Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will visit India in September this year to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi. 

PM Modi is on a six-day visit to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia. Narendra Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the Pacific island. Interestingly, when PM Modi landed at Port Moresby airport, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape touched PM Modi's feet and sought his blessings.