PM Narendra Modi congratulates new Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (May 21, 2022) congratulated Australia`s Labor Party leader Anthony Albanese for his party`s victory in the country`s federal election, which makes him Australia`s prime minister-elect. PM Modi said that he is looking forward to working towards the shared interest between India and Australia in the Indo-Pacific region.

"Congratulations @AlboMP for the victory of the Australian Labor Party, and your election as the Prime Minister! I look forward to working towards further strengthening our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and for shared priorities in the Indo-Pacific region." tweeted PM Modi. 

Congratulations @AlboMP for the victory of the Australian Labor Party, and your election as the Prime Minister! I look forward to working towards further strengthening our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and for shared priorities in the Indo-Pacific region.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 21, 2022

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Saturday night projected Labor will form a government for the first time since 2013, with Anthony Albanese to become the country`s 31st Prime Minister.

Anthony Albanese thanked people for voting for him. "Thank you Australia," he Tweeted. 

"Tonight the Australian people have voted for change," he added.

Australia`s conservative Prime Minister Scott Morrison conceded election defeat in national elections on Saturday.

Taking to Twitter today, the high commissioner said that Anthony Albanese had travelled to New Delhi as a backpacker in 1991 and led a parliamentary delegation in 2018.

"Australia`s Prime Minister-elect @AlboMP is no stranger to India having travelled the country as a backpacker in 1991 and led a parliamentary delegation in 2018. During the campaign, he committed to deepening India-Australia economic, strategic and people-to-people links," he said.

Speaking to his supporters, Morrisson said: "Tonight I have spoken to the leader of the opposition and the incoming Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese and I have congratulated him on his election victory."

Morrison also said he would stand down as leader of the Liberal party. The result marks an end to the coalition`s nearly-nine-year hold on power and Morrison`s tenure as Prime Minister. Morrison became prime minister in 2018.

Meanwhile, at the upcoming Quad Summit in Japan on May 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with his new Australian counterpart. Albanese has confirmed that he will attend the Quad summit in Japan next week as well. 

Addressing the special ministry of external affairs briefing, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said, "In their (India-Australia) interaction, the two leaders will review the India-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership and exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest."