Finance
On Friday (November 21, 2025), Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese in Johannesburg, where the two leaders reviewed progress in collaboration in a variety of areas, including defense and security, vital minerals, trade and investment, and people-to-people relations.
PM Modi visited Mr. Albanese hours after he landed in South Africa for the G20 Leaders’ Summit.
“Both leaders expressed satisfaction on substantial deepening and diversification of our ties as we mark 5 years of – Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a social media post.
He said that the two leaders took stock of progress in cooperation in diverse areas, including defence and security, critical minerals, trade & investment, education and people-to-people contacts, and discussed ways to further expand multifaceted bilateral cooperation in these and new areas.
“They also committed to strengthen global fight against terrorism,” he said.
Mr. Albanese expressed condolences over the recent terrorist attack in Delhi and the bus accident in Saudi Arabia, in which several Indians were killed.
“We have much to discuss, and our relationship is very strong,” he said.
“I think the economic relationship we can strengthen further, and our defence and security ties are also very important going forward. And I look forward to our discussion today,” Mr. Albanese added.
Later, in a social media post, Albanese said Australia and India are “great friends and partners”.
“From trade, defence and security to education and clean energy our relationship is fundamentally important. Wonderful to catch up with my friend Prime Minister Modi ahead of the G20 Summit,” he added.
A day earlier, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong met with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Delhi, where they discussed the full scope of bilateral collaboration and progress under the several pillars of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The two ministers co-chaired the 16th India-Australia Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue (FMFD) in Delhi.
The two Ministers also discussed regional trends and reaffirmed their common commitment to a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
