Australia, India to seek closer economic ties, critical minerals cooperation

3^min

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met Narendra Modi, his Indian counterpart, in Sydney on Wednesday to discuss regional security and economic ties and signed a migration deal to boost Indian student and business travel to Australia.

The two leaders also discussed the impact of Russia's conflict with Ukraine on developing countries, particularly food and fuel security, Indian officials said.

Modi is visiting Australia for the first time since 2014, and two months after Albanese travelled to India.

India and Australia are members of the Quad group of nations, which also includes Japan and the United States, and Modi had been due to attend a Quad leaders meeting Sydney. But that meeting was held on the sidelines a Group of Seven summit in Tokyo instead, as U.S. President Joe Biden needed to return directly to Washington.

"Quad leaders stand together for an open, stable, secure and prosperous Indo Pacific region ... where all countries large and small benefit from a regional balance that keeps the peace," Albanese told reporters after a bilateral meeting with Modi.

Albanese said he and Modi had also discussed trade, migration and renewable energy, and the two nations had established a hydrogen task force to expand cooperation on clean energy.

Australia, whose largest trading partner is China, is seeking to diversify its export markets, including forging closer trade ties with India.

India is Australia's sixth largest trading partner, while around 750,000 people in Australia claim Indian ancestry.

Modi said they had discussed increasing cooperation on mining and critical minerals, and would work towards a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement.

"We talked about taking the Australia-India comprehensive strategic partnership to greater heights in the next decade," he told reporters. Indian officials later said the next round of trade negotiations will be in June and July.

A migration agreement "will further strengthen our living bridge" Modi said, referring to the Indian diaspora in Australia, which is the second-largest and fastest growing diaspora group in the country. On Tuesday, thousands of overseas Indians cheered Modi at a rally in one of Sydney's biggest sporting arenas.

Modi travelled to Australia after holding a meeting with 14 Pacific island leaders in Papua New Guinea.

India's foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra told reporters in Sydney that Modi and Albanese had discussed synergies with Australia's development programs in the Pacific islands. India's Pacific islands agenda was focused on economic and health partnerships, Kwatra said.

Australia, India to seek closer economic ties, critical minerals cooperation

Australia

India

Seek

Closer

Economic

Ties

Critical

Minerals

Cooperation

In the details: Starlink’s Lebanon launch hit by first legal challenge — will it overcome the appeal?

In the details: Starlink’s Lebanon launch hit by first legal challenge — will it overcome the appeal?

Next steps on Lebanon: Israel divided over expanding strikes to Beirut amid rising Hezbollah threat

Next steps on Lebanon: Israel divided over expanding strikes to Beirut amid rising Hezbollah threat

Israeli military alerts Tayr Felsay and Aainata residents ahead of planned strikes

Israeli military alerts Tayr Felsay and Aainata residents ahead of planned strikes

Israeli strike on Ain al-Hilweh camp raises fears of wider fallout: The details

Israeli strike on Ain al-Hilweh camp raises fears of wider fallout: The details

Meet Miss Lebanon 2025 contestants: Video

Meet Miss Lebanon 2025 contestants: Video

Series of Israeli airstrikes spark massive fire in southern Lebanon

Series of Israeli airstrikes spark massive fire in southern Lebanon

Lunar eclipse captivates Lebanon: watch the stunning video

Lunar eclipse captivates Lebanon: watch the stunning video

Rising Israeli-Lebanese tensions: Army hints at new Lebanon offensive

Rising Israeli-Lebanese tensions: Army hints at new Lebanon offensive

Nouh Zaiter, one of Lebanon’s most wanted, taken into custody—the details

Nouh Zaiter, one of Lebanon’s most wanted, taken into custody—the details

Schools out, banks closed: Lebanon gears up for the Pope’s big arrival

Schools out, banks closed: Lebanon gears up for the Pope’s big arrival

Lebanon steps up port security: High-tech scanners aim to block smuggling, strengthen ports

Lebanon steps up port security: High-tech scanners aim to block smuggling, strengthen ports

Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Lebanon’s Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Metri

Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Lebanon’s Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Metri

Over 137,000 expatriate Lebanese enrolled for 2026 Elections as registration closes at midnight

Over 137,000 expatriate Lebanese enrolled for 2026 Elections as registration closes at midnight

LBCI sources: Lebanese judicial delegation to visit Damascus in early December to discuss detained Syrians

LBCI sources: Lebanese judicial delegation to visit Damascus in early December to discuss detained Syrians

Lebanon's fuel prices increase

Lebanon's fuel prices increase