Canberra: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held bilateral talks with his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott and then addressed the Australian Parliament, the first Indian Prime Minister to do so. PM Modi will leave for Fiji in the night for a day-long visit to conclude his 10-day three-nation tour.
Here are the live updates:
4:20 pm: While PM Modi wraps up his tour, he thanks the people of the Australia for the wonderful reception.
Thank you Australia! Past few days have been excellent. Sharing some photos from this memorable visit. http://t.co/gFCJqEc4HD
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 18, 2014
4:15 pm: PM Modi has dinner with the Australian PM at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Thank you @TonyAbbottMHR for the wonderful dinner at @MCG. Enjoyed being at this iconic ground. pic.twitter.com/JnrfOOiqtj
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 18, 2014
3:00 pm: People asked me isn't it too soon to visit Australia after Tony Abbot just visited. I said I can't say no to my friend Tony – PM Modi
2:59 pm: PM Tony Abbot came in September. He was the first guest since we formed the government - PM
2:58 pm: It's the beauty of democracy. The leaders of ruling and opposition parties are here: PM Modi
2:55 pm: PM Modi is now speaking at the official dinner hosted by PM Tony Abbot at MCG
2:30 pm: PM Narendra Modi also gifted an Indian "Skippers" Memento for Australia while at the MCG. The memento was signed by World Cup winning captains and the PM. Also present on the occasion were Australian PM Tony Abbot, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, VVS Laxman and Allan Border.
With my friend @TonyAbbottMHR at the MCG. pic.twitter.com/mprgKYPuxG
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 18, 2014
Indian "Skippers" Memento for Australia at MCG. Signed by World Cup winning captains and PM @narendramodi. pic.twitter.com/T8LWLx7ara
— Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) November 18, 2014
2:25 pm: PM Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Tony Abbot pose for photographs with the 2015 Cricket World Cup Trophy, along with former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar and others.
2:15 pm: PM Modi visits iconic MCG Ground, poses for photographs with supporters and ground officials.
1:57 pm: PM Modi says he is confident that the Indo-Australian relations will prosper in the future. My memorable visit ends tonight but journey of our relationship has begun, Modi further says.
1:55 pm: PM Modi speaks at the reception hosted by the Australian PM at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
12:47 pm: While concluding his speech, PM Modi thanked the Australian PM and his government for the love, respect and hospitality.
12:46 pm: You must be aware that G20 leaders are still worried about recovery of global economy, we all have to find ways for speedy recovery, PM Modi tells business leaders.
Reforms being undertaken to enhance ease of doing business: PM @narendramodi tells business leaders in his address pic.twitter.com/yboELBeGWP
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 18, 2014
12:45 pm: PM Modi says, India's Mars Orbiter Mission was our major achievement as it every component was indigenously made. The Mars Mission cost less than a Hollywood film, the PM added
12:44 pm: Our greatest strength is that 65% of population is below 35, says PM Modi.
12:43 pm: PM lamented that his government is promoting labour intensive manufacturing and the launched ‘Make In India’ program for growth of manufacture within the country.
12:42 pm: PM Modi assures the CEOs that India will build world class ports and inland waterways will be developed.
12:41 pm: PM Modi tels business leaders that the Indian General Elections indicated people’s high aspirations and his government is actively working to revive economy.
12:40 pm: PM Modi addresses business leaders in Melbourne says Asia Pacific looks forward to working with government and people of Australia.
12:10 pm: PM draws Australian CEOs attention towards the opportunities in the tourism sector of India. He tells them there is immense scope for investing in tourism infrastructure in India.
I have heard all your views in great detail. Have also got a business delegation with leading business leaders: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 18, 2014
I seek focus on two areas: one is http://t.co/it9Ryuxo2d of Victoria is leading in this. Second is school level coordination, says PM.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 18, 2014
Personally committed to environmental issues. We want to move to gas based economy. That tells you how many LNG terminals we would need: PM
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 18, 2014
11:30 am: While interacting with Australian CEOs, PM Modi discusses education, services, energy, banking & IT.
11:20 am: PM Modi interacts with Australian industrial leaders, says “Democratic values connect us. Want to hear from you all.” The Indian PM tells the leaders that he wants to listen to them and seek suggestions as they have a global perspective.
11:10 am: PM Modi arrives meets Governor Alex Chernov in Melbourne.
10:18 am: 'Humbled' Modi acknowledges Australian government's decision to let him address the Parliament, says, "Honoured to address the Australian Parliament."
Honoured to address the Australian Parliament. Here is the text of my speech. http://t.co/Uo0dglHAMl pic.twitter.com/YAqUzQG3zU
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 18, 2014
10:15 am: PM Modi says that the fact that both Australian PM and I had reciprocal visits in the same year indicates our commitment to strengthen India-Australia ties.
9:42 am: At 4:40 pm PM Modi will take his flight to for Fiji.
9:10 am: Abbott will host a dinner for PM Modi at MCG at 2:30 pm.
9:05 am: Australian PM Tony Abbott will host a reception for his Indian counterpart at Melbourne Cricket Ground at 1:30 pm. Thereafter both the PMs will pose for shutterbugs alongside his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott with the 2015 cricket World Cup trophy.
9:00 am: After the meet with the Victorian Governor, the Indian PM will interact with Australian CEOs at the Government House.
8:50 am: PM Modi will meet Victorian Governor Alex Chernov at around 10:50 am.
8:25 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Melbourne on the fourth and final leg of his four-city tour of Australia. Australian PM Tony Abbott will host a reception for his Indian counterpart at the iconic 161-year-old Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) later in the evening.
PM @narendramodi at Melbourne airport a short while ago. pic.twitter.com/5RdKJJfyuL
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 18, 2014
5:15 am: Modi addresses Australian Parliament
While addressing the Australian Parliament, PM Modi said Australia will not be at the periphery of India's vision but at the centre of its thought, as he called for closer bilateral security cooperation and a comprehensive global strategy to tackle the menace of terrorism.
Modi, while addressing the Australian Parliament, the first Indian Prime Minister to do so, says, "It has taken a Prime Minister of India 28 years to come to Australia. It should never have been so. And, this will change. Australia will not be at the periphery of our vision, but at the centre of our thought."
"We are united by the ideals of democracy. I consider nations such as ours to be blessed because we have the freedom to choose, the right to speak and the power to remove," says Modi.
"There was a time when many of us thought of Australia as a distant land on the southern edge of the world. But today the world sees Australia to be at the heart of the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean region," PM Modi asserted.
Modi says a comprehensive global strategy and a resolve to isolate "those who harbour terrorists" was needed to fight terrorism that is changing in character and expanding its reach.
"Terrorism has become a major threat for us all. In India, we have seen its face closely for three decades. And, we see it with the clarity that comes with it," the Indian PM says.
4.50 am: PM Tony Abbott addresses the Parliament. He says that the long overdue for an Indian PM to address this Parliament is at last corrected.
Also Read: India, Australia ink five agreements
3:15 am: PM gifts Rani Lakshmibai's petition against British to Abbott
PM Modi gifts Australian lawyer John Lang's 1854 petition on behalf of Rani Lakshmibai against the East India Company to his Australian counterpart.
PM Modi , who is on a tour to Australia landed in Canberra on Monday night after his trip to Brisbane to attend the G 20 Summit and Sydney where he addressed the Indian Diaspora at the Allphones Arena.
Also Read: Modi presents Man Singh Trophy to Abbott at Aus War Memorial
