Modi in Canberra, talks with Abbott today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott for summit talks here on Tuesday during which the two countries are expected to sign a series of pacts on social security, transfer of sentenced prisoners and combating narcotics trade. Mr Modi arrived here on Monday night on the third leg of his four- city tour of Australia from Sydney — a short 30minute flight — on a special Air India plane. In a departure from protocol, Mr Modi was received by foreign minister Julie Bishop, reflecting the significance attached by Australia to the visit of the PM that comes 28 years after Rajiv Gandhi. Foreign dignitaries are usually not received at that level when they arrive in the night. The deal on social security is expected to make it easier to swap staff between the two countries and is likely to boost two- way investment. The visit of Mr Modi, who arrived in Brisbane last Friday, to attend the G20 summit on the second leg of this threenation 10- day tour, is aimed at forging a strategic partnership with Australia to promote India’s economic goals and security interests, including maritime security. Mr Modi will also address the Federal Parliament after his talks with Mr Abbott. MoUs on culture and tourism are also expected to be signed tomorrow. Before he embarked on his visit, Mr Modi had said his trip to Australia is both special and historic.

“While we have much in common with Australia, our political, strategic and economic relations have been below potential,” Mr Modi said ahead of his visit. Pitching for closer strategic partnership with Australia, he said it will support India’s economic goals, “promote our security interests, including maritime security, and reinforce our efforts to foster a climate of peace and stability in our extended continental and maritime neighbourhood.” The significance of Mr Modi’s visit could be gauged from the fact from an editorial in a leading daily The Australian said that “it would be hard to overstate the economic, political and strategic significance of the official visit”. The edit noted that the overdue end of the ban on uranium sales announced by Mr Abbott in New Delhi in September has done much to place the India-Australia ties on a new footing. Mr Modi and Mr Abbott had summit talks in Delhi in October during which India and Australia sealed a landmark civil nuclear deal that will facilitate sale of uranium to New Delhi.