PM Modi gets rousing Melbourne welcome, calls it 'truly unforgettable'
Synopsis
Modi's Melbourne arrival was more than a diplomatic stopover — the Indian diaspora turned out in force despite the winter chill, staging Kathak, an Australia-India orchestra, and a rare Didgeridoo-Tabla fusion. With a bilateral summit, a CEOs Forum, and a Governor-General call all lined up for Thursday, the visit signals how central the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has become to both nations' Indo-Pacific calculus.
Key Takeaways
PM Modi arrived in Melbourne on 8 July , beginning his Australia visit after a stop in Indonesia.
The Indian diaspora welcomed him with chants, Kathak, and a cross-cultural Didgeridoo-Tabla performance by Ron Murray and Dr.
Modi called the reception 'truly unforgettable' in a post on X, praising the Australian-India Orchestra's rendition of 'Maa Tujhe Salaam'.
He will co-chair the 3rd Annual Leaders' Summit with PM Anthony Albanese on Thursday .
Modi will also attend the India-Australia CEOs Forum and call on Governor-General Sam Mostyn .
PM Albanese described India as 'the world's fourth-largest and fastest-growing economy' and a 'critical economic partner' for Australia.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Melbourne, Australia on Wednesday, 8 July to a rousing reception from the Indian diaspora, kicking off a high-stakes bilateral visit that includes a summit with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Braving cold weather, community members turned out in large numbers at his hotel late Wednesday evening, greeting Modi with chants of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Modi, Modi'.
A Welcome Modi Called Unforgettable
'The weather in Melbourne may be cold but the warmth of the welcome from the Indian community was truly unforgettable. Their affection and unwavering bond with India continue to be a source of immense joy and pride,' PM Modi posted on X after the reception. Several cultural performances were staged by local artists, including a Kathak recital that Modi described as 'outstanding', adding that he was 'glad to see Indian dances becoming popular across Australia.'
The Australian-India Orchestra's rendition of 'Maa Tujhe Salaam' drew particular praise from the Prime Minister, who noted its significance given that 2025 marks the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram. 'It beautifully demonstrated how music strengthens the bonds between our people,' he wrote.
Cross-Cultural Harmony on Display
A standout moment of the evening was a musical collaboration featuring Australia's ancient Didgeridoo and India's Tabla, performed by Ron Murray and Dr. Sam Evans. Modi called the performance 'truly exceptional', saying 'the harmony between these two timeless instruments beautifully reflected the deep cultural connect between our two nations.' He extended personal compliments to both artists for their dedication to preserving musical traditions.
Summit Agenda and Strategic Significance
Modi arrived in Melbourne from Indonesia, making Australia the next leg of his overseas tour. He is scheduled to co-chair the 3rd Annual Leaders' Summit with PM Albanese on Thursday, with the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as the central framework. Beyond bilateral talks, Modi will also call on Australia's Governor-General Sam Mostyn and participate in the India-Australia CEOs Forum, addressing business leaders from both countries.
'Landed in Melbourne, Australia. This visit will add vigour to the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. I look forward to the talks with Prime Minister Albanese,' Modi posted on X upon landing.
Albanese Frames India as Critical Partner
Ahead of the visit, PM Albanese described India as a key economic partner, with his office noting that India is 'the world's fourth-largest and fastest-growing economy' and 'a critical economic partner for Australia.' Albanese said he was 'honoured to welcome my friend Prime Minister Modi to Australia for our Annual Leaders' Summit', adding that 'the Australia-India relationship has never been more consequential.' The two leaders are expected to deepen ties across trade, defence, education, and clean energy under the Indo-Pacific strategic framework.
What Comes Next
Modi is also scheduled to address a large gathering of the Indian diaspora in Melbourne — a community that Australian officials increasingly recognise as an important bridge between the two nations. The outcomes of the 3rd Annual Summit and the CEOs Forum are expected to set the tone for bilateral economic engagement through the remainder of the decade.
Point of View
Not incidental — India has long used its overseas community as soft-power capital, and the optics of a packed, chanting crowd in wintry Melbourne reinforce Modi's domestic narrative of global stature. More substantively, the 3rd Annual Leaders' Summit comes at a moment when both nations are recalibrating supply chains away from over-reliance on China, making the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership a live economic instrument rather than diplomatic boilerplate. Albanese's framing of India as the 'fourth-largest and fastest-growing economy' is also a signal to Australian industry: the CEOs Forum is not ceremonial. The real measure of this visit will be in the sectoral deliverables — clean energy, critical minerals, education — that emerge from Thursday's summit, not the warmth of Wednesday's welcome.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is PM Modi visiting Australia in July 2025?
PM Modi is in Melbourne to co-chair the 3rd Annual Leaders' Summit with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, aimed at deepening the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across trade, defence, and clean energy. He will also attend the India-Australia CEOs Forum and call on Governor-General Sam Mostyn.
What happened at PM Modi's Melbourne diaspora welcome?
Members of the Indian community gathered at his hotel late Wednesday evening despite cold weather, greeting Modi with chants of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Modi, Modi'. Cultural performances included Kathak, an Australian-India Orchestra rendition of 'Maa Tujhe Salaam', and a fusion of Australia's Didgeridoo and India's Tabla.
What did PM Modi say about the Melbourne welcome?
Modi posted on X that 'the weather in Melbourne may be cold but the warmth of the welcome from the Indian community was truly unforgettable.' He also praised the Didgeridoo-Tabla performance by Ron Murray and Dr. Sam Evans as 'truly exceptional'.
What is the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership?
It is the overarching bilateral framework governing cooperation between India and Australia across trade, defence, education, clean energy, and Indo-Pacific security. The 3rd Annual Leaders' Summit in Melbourne on 8-9 July 2025 is the latest high-level review of this partnership.
How did Australian PM Albanese describe India ahead of the summit?
Albanese called India 'the world's fourth-largest and fastest-growing economy' and 'a critical economic partner for Australia', adding that 'the Australia-India relationship has never been more consequential.' He said he was honoured to host Modi for the Annual Leaders' Summit.
