New Delhi/Johannesburg, Nov 21 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in a bilateral dialogue with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during the G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg on Friday. The leaders assessed the ongoing growth of the India-Australia partnership and pinpointed critical sectors for enhanced collaboration.

In a post shared on X, Prime Minister Modi characterized the discussions as "very fruitful," highlighting that this year marks the fifth anniversary of their strategic partnership.

"I had a very productive meeting with PM Albanese of Australia. This year, our strategic partnership reaches its 5-year milestone, a period that has seen transformative outcomes bolstering our cooperation. In our discussions today, we focused on three primary sectors: defence and security, nuclear energy, and trade, where there exists vast potential for further development. We also touched on education, cultural exchanges, and more," PM Modi stated.

Additionally, a release from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) indicated that the two leaders expressed satisfaction regarding the "deepening and diversification of cooperation" between India and Australia, particularly after elevating their bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2020.

The Australian Prime Minister extended his solidarity with India following a recent terror attack, with both leaders reaffirming their dedication to enhancing the global fight against terrorism.

The discussions encompassed a wide array of collaborative areas, including political and strategic engagement, defence and security, energy, trade and investment, critical minerals, technology, mobility, education, and people-to-people connections.

The Prime Ministers also shared insights on regional and global developments of mutual concern.

The MEA noted that both leaders recognized the momentum created by frequent high-level interactions in recent years, emphasizing their importance in accelerating bilateral progress.

“PM Modi and Albanese agreed that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has provided a robust foundation for an expanded and more resilient bilateral framework. They reaffirmed their commitment to elevate the partnership "to even greater heights," the MEA noted.

The meeting reiterated the shared vision of India and Australia for a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific, although no specific details about regional discussions were disclosed.

Both leaders underscored the importance of ensuring that collaboration in areas like defence, critical minerals, technology, and education continues to progress in a balanced and mutually beneficial way.

Prime Minister Modi's comments on X echoed this sentiment, highlighting the substantial potential across both traditional and emerging areas of collaboration.

His emphasis on nuclear energy, trade, and defence as focal points indicates a continuity in India’s broader strategic engagement with Australia, especially as both nations work to fortify their economic and security frameworks.

This meeting in Johannesburg added another layer to the rapidly evolving bilateral relationship that has significantly expanded over the past five years. Both parties reiterated their commitment to building on this momentum as they look forward.