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Indian PM in Australia

Sam Manekshaw

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PM Modi ribs Abbot over 'shirtfronting' in extempore speech to Aus Parliament

Speaking extempore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Australian Parliament on Tuesday calling 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, said, "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."

In a burst of humour, the Indian Prime Minister also noted he was the third foreign leader, after China’s Xi Jinping and Britain’s David Cameron, to address parliament over the last week.

“I do not know how you are doing this,” he told the assembled MPs. “Maybe this is Prime Minister Abbott’s way of shirtfronting you?” - a comment that was greeted with laughter and applause.

Modi addressed the Parliament after holding bilateral talks with Prime Minister Tony Abbott following which the two countries signed five pacts on social security, transfer of sentenced prisoners, combating narcotics trade, tourism, and Arts and Culture.

During the talks, the two sides sought an early conclusion of negotiations for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement and a closure on the civil nuclear deal.

Addressing the Parliament, Modi said terrorism had become a major threat.

"In India, we have seen its face closely for three decades. And, we see it with the clarity that comes with it. Terrorism is changing in character and expanding in its reach," Modi said.

"Internet has made recruitment and call to violence self-generated. It also feeds off money laundering, drug trafficking and arms smuggling. We have to deepen our bilateral security cooperation. But, we need a comprehensive global strategy for a global problem," he said.

In order to tackle these new security challenges, Modi sought closer security cooperation, a policy of no distinction between terrorist groups or discrimination between nations, a resolve to isolate those who harbour terrorists, willingness to empower states that will fight them, a social movement against extremism in countries where it is most prevalent and every effort to delink religion and terrorism.

"India sees Australia as one of our foremost partners in the region. There are few countries in the world where we see so much synergy as we do in Australia," Modi said.

The Prime Minister also called for support for the process of economic integration across the region and an open global trading system that remains integrated.

"We must guard against regional trade initiatives becoming instruments of political competition. However, economic integration by itself won't be a strong basis for peace and stability, without strong regional institutions," Modi said.

The Indian Prime Minister added that India and Australia were united by the ideals of democracy which offers the best opportunity for the human spirit to flourish, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Tuesday.

"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," the prime minister said in his address to the Australian parliament here.

He added that the statue of Mahatma Gandhi he unveiled in Canberra was a symbol of the shared values between the two countries.

"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.

"This dynamic region holds the key to the future and Australia is at its crossroad," Modi said.

He added that India seeks the same future for the world as Australia and sees Australia as a vital partner in India's quest for progress and prosperity.

"There are few countries in the world where we see so much synergy as we do in Australia," Modi said.

Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott hailed India as “the emerging superpower that is already a democracy” and pledged to secure a bilateral trade pact by the end of next year.

“By the end of next year we will have a free trade deal with what is potentially the world’s largest market. And I want to make this declaration here in this Parliament, there are two can do prime ministers in this chamber today and we will make it happen,” the Prime Minister said.

“The cheering crowds sense that there is a natural affinity between Australia and India. A natural partnership for peace and prosperity and they want us, they want both of us, they want all of us to make the most of it.

“We want to be a dependable source of energy security, of resource security and of food security for India.”

PM Modi ribs Abbot over 'shirtfronting' in extempore speech to Aus Parliament - Firstpost
 
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Narendra Modi and Tony Abbott reveal new India-Australia military agreement

The confirmation came after China's President Xi Jinping had flown from Canberra to Tasmania.

"They have decided to establish the Framework for Security Cooperation to reflect the deepening and expanding security and defence engagement between India and Australia, and to intensify co-operation and consultation between Australia and India in areas of mutual interest," said India's Ministry of External Affairs, on its website.

The framework lays out an extensive "action plan" including annual prime ministerial summits and maritime military exercises, according to the Indian government website.

The action areas include counter-terrorism, border control and close consultations on regional and international institutions.

It even commits Australian "support for India's bid to be a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council".

Australian officials later "noted" the framework in a joint statement from Mr Abbott and Mr Modi, after Mr Abbott departed to join China's President Xi for an afternoon in Tasmania.

The joint statement said the new framework would guide closer bilateral collaboration across "defence, counter-terrorism, cyber policy, disarmament and non-proliferation and maritime security".

"They agreed to hold regular meetings at the level of the Defence Minister, conduct regular maritime exercises and convene regular navy to navy, air force to air force and army to army staff talks," said the joint statement.

Mr Modi first revealed the framework agreement in a media statement this morning, while standing alongside Mr Abbott.

"I welcome the new framework of security co-operation," said Mr Modi, without introduction or explanation.

"Security and defence are important and growing areas of the new India-Australia partnership for advancing regional peace and stability and combating terrorism and transnational crimes," he said.

Mr Modi's short revelation to journalists was made just minutes before he gave a historic address to a joint sitting of Parliament, the same venue where President Xi had yesterday pledged his nation to peaceful co-operation.

Mr Modi's powerful speech placed Australia at the centre of India's vision of a prosperous and regional order, at the juncture of the Indian and Pacific oceans, at a time when he said security was valued more highly than ever.

He talked of what the two countries could do working together in maritime security and counter-terrorism, in regional and global institutions, and in entrenching international norms of good behaviour.

"India and Australia can play their part in it by expanding security co-operation," Mr Modi told the joint sitting in unscripted English, when he more commonly speaks in Hindi at international events.

"What we do need is to work together, and with others, to create an environment and culture that promotes the currency of coexistence and co-operation in which all nations small and big abide by international law and norms ... even when they have bitter disputes," he said.

Mr Modi and Mr Abbott are unlikely to mention China in the context of their plans of military co-operation, at least while President Xi remains in Australia.

Nevertheless, the muscular China that has been on display in recent years has been at the forefront of their concerns.

Mr Modi has been chafing at Chinese military incursions on the Indian side of the "line of control", in the Himalayas.

Mr Abbott has been exercised by China's territorial conflicts with neighbours in its maritime periphery.

"There's an enthusiasm on both our parts for more bilateral and trilateral military exercises and we hope to see much more of that in the years ahead," said Mr Abbott.

Earlier, Mr Modi said his visit with Mr Abbott this morning to the Australian War Memorial had "reminded us of the need to strive together for a better world".

The new India-Australia framework dovetails neatly with both countries tightening ties with both Japan and the United States, suggesting the informal resurrection of a "security quad" or "security diamond" of democratic powers that was previously dropped due to Chinese concerns.

Narendra Modi and Tony Abbott reveal new India-Australia military agreement


Read more: Narendra Modi and Tony Abbott reveal new India-Australia military agreement
 
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I was kind of pissed off when Tony Abbot called modiji "Narender" in the joint press conference. What an @ss.
 
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So, when is the Uranium arriving?:pop:
During the talks, the two sides sought an early conclusion of negotiations for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement and a closure on the civil nuclear deal.
“We want to be a dependable source of energy security, of resource security and of food security for India.”

Soon :-)
 
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I was kind of pised off when Tony Abbot called modiji "Narender" in the joint press conference. What an @ss.


You are mistaken. Tony was not being disrespectful to Modi. In Western cultures (esp English speaking countries) people like call each other by the first name to express their proximity and solidarity, esp when they are addressing a friend.



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(It is another matter that Modi wishes it was Julia Gillard and not that anaconda face Abbot)
 
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I don't think any Indian PM has got international coverage like this before. Modi sure knows how to put on a good show.
 
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