Modi, Albanese Hold Annual Summit, Reaffirm Commitment to Strengthen India-Australia Ties
Melbourne, July 9 (TNT): Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese on Thursday held the third India-Australia Annual Summit in Melbourne, reviewing the progress of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and reaffirming their commitment to expanding cooperation across key sectors.
Modi, who was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Government House, held one-on-one talks with Albanese before delegation-level discussions.
The two leaders welcomed the successful completion of six years of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and reviewed progress in bilateral relations spanning trade and investment, defence and security, critical minerals, cyber and emerging technologies, space, civil nuclear energy, clean energy, education and people-to-people ties.
They reaffirmed their commitment to the early conclusion of a comprehensive, balanced and mutually beneficial Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) to further strengthen economic engagement.
The Prime Ministers welcomed the outcomes of the Australia-India CEOs Forum and the Economic Business Roadmap event held earlier in the day, encouraging businesses from both countries to explore investment opportunities in priority sectors.
The leaders also noted the growing collaboration in higher education, highlighting the expanding presence of Australian universities in India and their role in developing a skilled workforce, fostering innovation and strengthening bilateral ties.
Modi and Albanese appreciated the contribution of the Indian diaspora in Australia in enhancing bilateral relations and welcomed the voluntary return of several cultural artefacts of Tamil Nadu origin from Australian institutions to India. The artefacts include a stone sculpture of Nandi, a metal trident bearing the image of Bhadrakali and a six-headed stone idol of Karthikeya.
The two Prime Ministers also exchanged views on regional and global developments and reiterated their shared commitment to a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
During the visit, India and Australia signed a series of agreements and memoranda of understanding covering maritime security, civil nuclear energy, skill development, emerging technologies, science and technology, filmmaking, defence and security, energy security, education, repatriation of cultural property, solar energy and traditional knowledge.
Modi thanked Albanese for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation and reaffirmed India’s commitment to further deepening the multifaceted partnership with Australia.
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