New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with the new Australian PM Anthony Albanese on Tuesday in Japan. According to a press release by the Ministry of External Affairs, PM Modi congratulated the Australian PM for his victory in the elections. PM Modi also invited PM Albanese to visit India at an early date, the release said.
"Both leaders reviewed the multi-faceted cooperation under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including in trade & investment, defence manufacturing, renewable energy including green hydrogen, education, science and technology, agricultural research, sports, and people-to-people ties. Both Prime Ministers affirmed their desire to continue the positive momentum in the bilateral relationship," the MEA said.
Post the meeting, Australian PM Anthony Albanese told news agency ANI that the relationship between India and Australia is very important. "Our relationship with India is a very important one and it was a great honour to meet with Prime Minister Modi," Albanese said.
PM Modi is in Japan to participate in the QUAD Summit at the invitation of the Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The bilateral meeting with the Australian PM was on the sidelines of the QUAD Summit. Prior to the meeting with PM Anthony Albanese, PM Modi also held a meeting with American President Joe Biden.
Prior to the meeting with the Australian PM, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said, "Elections are being held in Australia today, the next Australian PM is likely to attend the QUAD Summit. It is expected that the PM will meet the new Australian leader in Tokyo."
"In their (India-Australia) interaction, the two leaders will review the India-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership and exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest. The last bilateral meeting held virtually in March this year," he added.
Anthony Albanese has sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Australia on Monday ahead of the Tokyo Summit.