PM talks cricket, trade with Indian minister

Anthony Albanese has talked up Australia’s relationship with India ahead of his upcoming trip to the subcontinent.

The Prime Minister met with India’s external affairs minister S. Jaishankar at Kirribilli House on Saturday morning, where the pair chatted about everything from security issues to cricket.

“Our relationship goes from strength to strength,” Mr Albanese told the diplomat.

“I’ve already had a number of meetings with your Prime Minister. And our economic relationship is important.

“I think we have complementary economies. I look forward to strengthening that as well, as well as on security issues.”

Mr Albanese will visit India next month as two countries seek to finalise a trade deal following an interim agreement signed last April.

The trip was locked in following Mr Albanese’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the final day of the G20 Summit in Bali.

It will be just one of two trips the Prime Minister will make to India in 2023, with Mr Albanese assuring he will back to attend the G20 summit in New Delhi in September.

“I, of course, am looking forward to being in India in just a few weeks’ time now for the bilateral visit. And I thank Prime Minister Modi for the invitation,” he told Dr S. Jaishankar

The March visit, which will include a business delegation, will line up with the Australian cricket team’s fourth test in Gujarat.

Mr Modi will travel to Australia later in the year for the 2023 Quad Summit, to be hosted by Mr Albanese.