The Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi reached Melbourne today on the fourth and final leg of his four-city tour of Australia. He arrived in Melbourne after a hectic morning in Canberra, where he held bilateral talks with his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott and then addressed the Australian Parliament, the first Indian Prime Minister to do so. The Prime Minister will meet Governor of Victoria Alex Chernov and Australian and institutional investors. He will also address the Australian business leaders. Abbott will host a reception for his Indian counterpart at the iconic 161-year-old Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) later in the evening. The Prime Minister will leave for Fiji in the night for a day-long visit to conclude his 10-day three-nation tour.
Earlier, India and Australia sought early conclusion of negotiations for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement and a closure on the civil nuclear deal as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart Tony Abbott held talks in Canberra. After the two leaders held talks, the two countries signed five pacts on social security, transfer of sentenced prisoners, combating narcotics trade, tourism, and art and culture.
India and Australia also established a framework for bilateral security cooperation and stepped up their defence collaboration.
Addressing a joint press conference after the talks, Mr Modi said, the two countries agreed on seeking early closure on the civil nuclear agreement, which will give Australia a chance to participate in one of the most secure and safe nuclear energy programme in the world. Mr Modi said, there are huge opportunities for partnership in every area we can think of — agriculture, agro-processing, resources, energy, finance, infrastructure, education, and science and technology. Mr Modi emphasized that the economic climate in India has changed and it is a lot easier to convert opportunities into concrete outcomes. Mr Modi also announced that India will organise a 'Make in India' show in Australia in 2015 while Australia would hold a business week in India in January next year.
