New Delhi: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will begin a four-day visit to India on March 8. He will arrive in Ahmedabad on Holi and visit Mumbai and Delhi thereafter. The Australian Prime Minister will be accompanied by Senator Don Farrell, Minister for Trade and Tourism, and Madeleine King, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, along with senior officials and a high-level business delegation.
"At the invitation of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of Australia, H.E. Mr. Anthony Albanese, will pay a State Visit to India on 08-11 March 2023," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed in a statement.
"This will be Prime Minister Albanese’s first visit to India in his current role. Prime Minister Albanese will arrive in Ahmedabad on 08 March 2023 on the day of Holi. He will also visit Mumbai on 09 March 2023, before arriving in Delhi later in the day," the ministry added.
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India An Important Partner, Close Friend Of Australia: Australia PM Albanese
Elabourating on his visit, Australia PM Anthony Albanese said, "This will be my first visit to India as PM and I look forward to reinforcing the strong bond between Australia and India. Our relationship with India is strong but it can be stronger."
"It is underpinned by our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which underscores a joint commitment to working together to enhance our defence, economic, and technological interests," he added, as quoted by news agency ANI.
He further mentioned that a stronger India-Australia partnership is good for the stability of our region. "It also means more opportunities and more trade and investment, strengthening our economies and directly benefiting our people," Albanese said.
"As we look to the future, India will continue to be an important partner and a close friend to Australia. I look forward to hosting PM Modi in Australia mid-year for the Quad Leaders’ Summit and to visiting India again in September for the G20 Leaders’ Summit," he further mentioned.
PM Narendra Modi and His Australian Counterpart To Hold Summit In Delhi
In Delhi, Albanese will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan on March 10.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart will hold the Annual Summit to discuss areas of cooperation under the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, besides regional and global issues of mutual interest. Prime Minister Albanese will also call on President Droupadi Murmu.
"India and Australia share warm and friendly relations based on common values and democratic principles. The Strategic Partnership between the two countries was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in June 2020 which has been strengthened and deepened through frequent high-level exchanges and enhanced cooperation across sectors," the MEA stated.
"Prime Minister Albanese’s visit is expected to provide further momentum to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," it added further.