Australian PM highlights growing economic, strategic and cultural partnership with India
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday strongly praised Australia’s expanding relationship with India in Parliament, saying the partnership between the two nations will continue to deepen across trade, strategy, education and culture.
Speaking during a parliamentary address, Albanese described India as one of the world’s biggest economic opportunities and emphasised the growing importance of Canberra’s ties with New Delhi in the Indo-Pacific region.
“India has the largest population in the world. But it will also grow to be the third-largest economy over this decade. That is an extraordinary opportunity for us and our region,” Albanese said.
The Australian Prime Minister highlighted that Australia is not only a Pacific nation but also an Indian Ocean nation, making cooperation with India strategically vital for regional stability and economic growth.
Albanese said the bilateral relationship has been significantly strengthened through the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), while adding that cultural exchanges, education partnerships and cricket have brought the two societies even closer.
Recalling his previous visits to India, Albanese said he is looking forward to hosting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Australia again soon.
“One of my great honours has been my two visits so far to India as PM… Likewise, I will have the privilege of hosting PM Modi here soon,” he said.
Albanese also praised Australia’s Indian-origin community, calling it a major contributor to the country’s economy and society.
“PM Modi’s visit will be made extraordinary by so many of the million-strong Indian-Australian community,” he added.
#WATCH | Australian PM Anthony Albanese says, “…One of my great honours has been my two visits so far to India as PM…Likewise, I will have the privilege of hosting PM Modi here soon, a privilege I look forward to repeating for the second time…”
“India has the largest… pic.twitter.com/oCobQUNhpL
— ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2026
The remarks come amid rapidly expanding strategic cooperation between India and Australia, particularly within the Quad grouping that also includes the United States and Japan.
Australia’s High Commissioner to India Philip Green later shared Albanese’s parliamentary remarks on X, saying Australia was eagerly looking forward to PM Modi’s visit.
Earlier this week, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong had also hinted at Modi’s upcoming trip during her visit to India for the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting.
Wong described India as one of Australia’s key strategic and economic partners and said Modi’s visit would further strengthen bilateral cooperation.
During her India visit, Wong also met PM Modi and discussed ways to ensure the Indo-Pacific remains “free, open, secure and prosperous,” with talks focusing on defence, trade, technology and supply chain resilience.
The latest remarks from Australian leaders underline the rapidly growing convergence between India and Australia as both countries seek deeper cooperation in response to evolving geopolitical and economic challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
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