Australia welcomes PM Modi with open arms

Sydney: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, May 23, 2023,  spoke about the strong relationship between India and Australia across sectors including growing cricketing ties and noted that many Australian women players came to play in the Women’s Premier League held in March in different Indian cities.

Addressing a community event here, he referred to the “interesting competition” on the cricket field and deeper friendships off the field. “Our cricket relations have completed 75 years.

“As interesting as the competition on the cricket field is, the friendship runs deeper off the field. This time, many Australian women players also came for the first time in the country to play IPL (Women’s Premier League),” PM Modi said.

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PM Modi arrived at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney along with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese to a rousing welcome.

The Prime Minister spoke about the linkages between the two countries with members of the Indian diaspora repeatedly cheering his remarks.

“Our lifestyles may be different, but now yoga also connects us. We have been connected due to cricket for long. But now tennis and films are also connecting us. We might prepare food in different manners, but MasterChef is connecting us now,” PM Modi said.

PM Modi arrived in Sydney on Monday as part of the third and final leg of his three-nation visit after concluding his visit to Papua New Guinea.

During his visit, PM Modi met several business leaders and policymakers, educationists and non-profit activists in Australia.

‘Toilet Warrior’ Mark Balla met PM in Sydney. He praised the Modi’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan terming it as one of the most important things happening in India. “Mark Balla has done commendable work on a topic I am very passionate about – access to sanitation. People know him as a ‘Toilet Warrior’. Was wonderful interacting with him earlier today,” Modi tweeted.

“Sarah Todd, the celebrity chef, is very passionate about India, which was reflected in her deep knowledge about our cuisine, spices and more. Had an excellent interaction with her in Sydney,” PM Modi noted posting his photo on Twitter.