The personal warmth the Australian PM shared with Modi was reflected yet again at a reception at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday.
“Narendra and I.” Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said this at a joint press conference with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi after summit talks, while stressing how the two countries were expanding their cooperation in various areas.
The personal warmth Abbott shared with Modi was reflected yet again at a reception at the iconic 161-year-old Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) where he said Modi is like a “brother.”
“Narendra and I,” said Abbott on couple of occasions while referring to the determination of the two leaders to work together to help strengthening of relations.
Abbott had urged world leaders to speak from the heart rather than a script at the summit of the Group of 20 industrialised and major emerging economies at Brisbane.
“If we could use first names, that would be good as well because, whatever disagreements we might have, it helps if there can at least be personal warmth amongst us,” he said.
When Modi, the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Australia in 28 years after Rajiv Gandhi in 1986, made his entry at the G20 Summit venue, he gave Abbott a hearty hug.
Before Modi began his address to lawmakers on Tuesday, Abbott said he was determined to correct the situation where no Indian Prime Minister had addressed the Australian parliament.
He said leaders of several countries have addressed the Parliament but no Indian leader has done it.
“I am personally delighted that this has been been corrected,” Abbott said.
The two leaders had several meetings — both formally and informally — during the East Asia Summit and at the G20 Summit.
“My memorable visit to Australia ends today. A new relationship has begun,” Modi said while speaking at the MCG.
At the end of his four—city Australia tour, Modi gifted a memento to Australia signed by World Cup winning Indian captains and himself.
Modi says Australia at centre of our thoughts, Abbott calls India 'emerging superpower'-Times of India
CANBERRA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said Australia will not be at the periphery of India's vision but at the centre of its thought, as he called for closer bilateral security cooperation and a comprehensive global strategy to tackle the menace of terrorism.Modi, while addressing the Australian Parliament, the first Indian Prime Minister to do so, said, "It has taken a Prime Minister of India 28 years to come to Australia. It should never have been so. And, this will change. Australia will not be at the periphery of our vision, but at the centre of our thought."
Modi addressed parliament after holding bilateral talks with Prime Minister Tony Abbott following which the two countries signed five pacts on social security, transfer of sentenced prisoners, combating narcotics trade, tourism, and Arts and Culture.
During the talks, the two sides sought an early conclusion of negotiations for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement and a closure on the civil nuclear deal.
Addressing parliament, Modi said terrorism has become a major threat.
"In India, we have seen its face closely for three decades. And, we see it with the clarity that comes with it. Terrorism is changing in character and expanding in its reach," Modi said.
"Internet has made recruitment and call to violence self-generated. It also feeds off money laundering, drug trafficking and arms smuggling. We have to deepen our bilateral security cooperation. But, we need a comprehensive global strategy for a global problem," he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment