Watch: Albanese receives ceremonial welcome in Delhi, to hold Leaders’ Summit with PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday morning received Australian PM Anthony Albanese for a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on his first State Visit to India which is being seen as an opportunity to propel the dynamic India-Australia relationship to newer heights.

Albanese inspected the Guard of Honour at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan and later thanked PM Modi for a “very warm” welcome.

“Australia and India are great friends. We are partners and we are building that partnership even stronger each and every day,” he told reporters at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

“We are competing on the cricket team, but together we are building a better world,” he added.

Earlier, the Australian PM began “another big day in India” by paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

The two leaders will now hold the India-Australia Annual Leaders’ Summit which will focus on trade and investment, renewable energy, technology, defence and security cooperation.

After watching the opening session of the ongoing first Test match between India and Australia at Ahmedabad along with PM Modi on Thursday, the Australian PM travelled to Mumbai where he not only addressed the India-Australia CEO Forum but also embarked the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.