Did PM Modi Thank His 'Friend' Albanese for Birthday Wishes and Strengthening Ties?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- PM Modi appreciates Australia's PM for birthday wishes.
- Strengthening of the India-Australia Partnership is a priority.
- Australian PM acknowledges the Indian community's contributions.
- Both leaders aim for collaboration across various sectors.
- Recent diplomatic exchanges highlight growing bilateral ties.
Canberra/New Delhi, Sep 17 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday conveyed his appreciation to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for the birthday wishes on his 75th birthday, emphasizing his eagerness to enhance the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and foster the strong ties between the peoples of both nations.
The Australian PM shared a heartfelt video message celebrating PM Modi's birthday, referring to him as a "friend" and expressing anticipation for their upcoming meeting. He praised the contributions of the Indian community in Australia.
In the video, Albanese stated, "Happy Birthday to my friend Prime Minister Modi. Australia is proud to share such a strong friendship with India and we're grateful every day for the incredible contribution of the Indian community here in Australia. I look forward to catching up with you soon, Prime Minister, and many more years of friendship and progress."
Under Albanese's leadership, India has become a cornerstone of Australia's approach to the Indo-Pacific region, with ongoing efforts to deepen the multifaceted Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations.
In response, PM Modi expressed, "Thank you, my friend, Prime Minister Albanese, for your kind wishes. I look forward to further strengthening the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and our close people-to-people ties."
Earlier this year, PM Modi had congratulated Albanese on the Australian Labor Party's historic Federal election victory and extended an invitation for the Annual Summit.
The two leaders had convened for the second Australia-India Annual Summit on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) Summit in Rio de Janeiro in November 2024.
This meeting marked the approach to the fifth anniversary of the Australia-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with both Prime Ministers acknowledging significant advancements in enhancing bilateral relations across key sectors – including climate change, renewable energy, trade, defense, education, and cultural links.