PM Modi meets Australian counterpart, discusses cooperation in defence & security, critical minerals

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese in in Johannesburg and the two leaders took stock of progress in cooperation in diverse areas, including defence and security, critical minerals, trade & investment and people-to-people ties.

PM Modi met Albanese hours after he arrived in South Africa to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit.”Both leaders expressed satisfaction on substantial deepening and diversification of our ties as we mark 5 years of – Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a social media post.

He said that the two leaders took stock of progress in cooperation in diverse areas, including defence and security, critical minerals, trade & investment, education and people-to-people contacts, and discussed ways to further expand multifaceted bilateral cooperation in these and new areas.”They also committed to strengthen global fight against terrorism,” he said.

Albanese expressed condolences over the recent terrorist attack in Delhi and the bus accident in Saudi Arabia, in which several Indians were killed.”We have much to discuss, and our relationship is very strong,” he said.”I think the economic relationship we can strengthen further, and our defence and security ties are also very important going forward.