PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the strongest and biggest foundations of India-Australia relations are mutual trust and respect as he along with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese addressed the Indian diaspora at a mega event in Sydney and renamed a suburb as ‘Little India’, reflecting the strong bond between the two strategic partners. Modi also announced that India will open a consulate in Brisbane to fulfil the long-pending demand by the diaspora.
An unusual comparison
An unusual comparison
- Modi, who arrived to a rousing welcome that according to Albanese was not even accorded to legendary American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, also described India as a “force of global good” and a “bright spot” in the world economy.
- “The last time I saw someone on this stage was Bruce Springsteen and he did not get the welcome that Prime Minister Modi has got. Prime Minister Modi is the boss [a nickname used for Springsteen by his fans],” Albanese said.
From cricket to yoga
- Modi on Tuesday invoked cricketing ties between India and Australia and said millions of Indians mourned when the great Australian spinner
Shane Warne died last year. - He gave examples of yoga, cricket, films and the cooking show ‘MasterChef’ to highlight the strong bonds between India and Australia.
- Asserting that the strategic partnership between India and Australia is constantly deepening, Modi said, “we hope the bilateral trade between the two sides will more than double in the next five years” after signing the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement last year.