PM Modi and Australian PM Albanese Strengthen Bilateral Ties at G20 Summit Meeting

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Johannesburg shortly after arriving in South Africa for the G20 Leaders' Summit.

The two leaders conducted a comprehensive review of bilateral cooperation across multiple domains, including defense and security, critical minerals, trade and investment, and people-to-people connections.

Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted that both leaders expressed satisfaction regarding the significant deepening and diversification of ties as they celebrate 5 years of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

During their discussions, the leaders assessed progress in various collaborative areas and explored opportunities to further expand their multifaceted bilateral relationship in both existing and new domains.

They also affirmed their joint commitment to strengthening global efforts against terrorism. Prime Minister Albanese expressed condolences regarding the recent terrorist attack in Delhi and the tragic bus accident in Saudi Arabia that claimed several Indian lives.

Prime Minister Modi characterized the meeting as "very good" and noted that the strategic partnership between India and Australia has witnessed transformative outcomes over the past five years, significantly enhancing cooperation between the nations.

Albanese emphasized the strength of the bilateral relationship, stating, "We have much to discuss, and our relationship is very strong." He highlighted the potential for further strengthening economic ties and underscored the importance of defense and security cooperation moving forward.

In a subsequent social media post, the Australian Prime Minister described India and Australia as "great friends and partners," noting that their relationship encompasses critical areas such as trade, defense and security, education, and clean energy, making it "fundamentally important."

The day before this meeting, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong held discussions with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Delhi, where they reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation and progress under various pillars of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The two foreign ministers co-chaired the 16th India-Australia Foreign Ministers' Framework Dialogue in Delhi, during which they also exchanged perspectives on developments in the Indo-Pacific region and reaffirmed their shared commitment to maintaining a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.