PM Narendra Modi talks with Australian PM Anthony Albanese

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held wide-ranging discussions with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese on boosting overall bilateral ties, including in the areas of trade and investment, defense and renewable energy. Prior to the talks, Modi was given a ceremonial guard of honor at Admiralty House here. The talks took place a day after Modi addressed the Indian community at a rally in Sydney, which was also attended by Albanese. Promoting economic cooperation is one of the key areas of the talks.

Last year, India and Australia finalized the Economic Cooperation Trade Agreement (ECTA) and it came into force last December. Both sides are now working on the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA). Earlier, officials said the two prime ministers would also deliberate on the situation in the Indo-Pacific region.

ALSO READ: He is an incredible man’: MasterChef Australia contestant after meeting PM Modi

“Australia and India share a commitment to a stable, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Together we have an important role to play in supporting this vision,” Albanese said on Monday.

Modi and Albanese also discussed people-to-people contacts, renewable energy and ways to strengthen defense and security cooperation.

Read also: ‘Boss’ PM Modi welcomes ‘rock stars’ wherever he goes: Australian PM

In June 2020, India and Australia elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and signed a landmark agreement for reciprocal access to military bases for logistic support.

The Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) allows the armies of both countries to use each other’s bases for repair and replenishment of supplies, apart from facilitating enhanced overall defense cooperation.

In August last year, four Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets and two C-17 heavy-lift aircraft of the Indian Air Force participated in a 17-nation air combat exercise in Australia.