Anthony Albanese has been celebrated in a lavish ceremony alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the Aussie leader describing the moment as one of the highlights of his life.
The blockbuster meeting was held in front of a monstrous 132,000-strong crowd at the Ahmedabad stadium ahead of the fourth Cricket Test between Australia and India.
The leaders’ arrival at the ground was slightly delayed, but once the Indian prime minister stepped foot in his own stadium, chants of ‘Modi, Modi, Modi’ echoed around the ground as they would for cricket icon Virat Kohli.
Australia captain Steve Smith and Indian skipper Rohit Sharma met the leaders on stage, with the four linking arms and raising them in the air.
Mr Albanese then joined Mr Modi to do a lap of honour around the stadium in a hovercraft chariot with giant bats and stumps on the back of it, waving to the delighted fans in the crowd.
The two leaders are working towards a lucrative free trade deal that would bring huge economic benefits to big business in both countries.
But it comes at a time when most Aussies are struggling with cost of living pressures and amid a surging inflation rate now at 7.8 per cent.
Anthony Albanese says he’s honoured by the effort his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi has put in to his visit, which has included a ride on a chariot before a huge cricket-loving crowd (pictured)
The Reserve Bank of Australia on Tuesday to combat the spirally prices increased the cash rate for the 10th consecutive month to 3.6 per cent, with rates now rising at the most dramatic pace since 1988 and 1989.
The rapid hikes have increased monthly variable mortgage repayments by a staggering 46 per cent in just 10 months.
To make matters worse, power bills are also skyrocketing.
Energy Australia, which has 2.4million electricity and gas customers, increased its variable contracts by 14.1 per cent on this month, adding hundreds of dollars to yearly bills.
Contracts are usually reviewed at the beginning of the new financial year on July 1, in line with government reviews of industry prices, but competitor Origin made an increase in January and Energy Australia has followed suit.
Early on in the Mr Albanese’s Prime Ministership he was dubbed ‘Air-bus Albo’ for jet-setting to a number of foreign engagements including visits to Japan for a Quad meeting, war-torn Ukraine, France and London for the Queen’s funeral, among others.
The two prime ministers did a lap of honour in a chariot (pictured) before the game, in a stadium complete with hundreds of posters and billboards featuring photos of them both
Mr Albanese is pictured, greeting Australian cricket captain Steve Smith on Day one of the fourth test in Ahmedabad
He appeared to be in high spirits as he touched down in India for three days of high-level talks on Wednesday and was greeted by cheering crowds of dancers and performers.
Some threw petals of flowers over him to mark the Holi festival, before the PM was shown the bedroom and study where Gandhi worked during India’s independence movement.
He later gave a speech about his experience in India on his first trip in 1991.
‘We went through every form of transport possible over a six week period and it brought to me a love of Indian culture and an understanding of the way that Indian people embrace and welcome you to this wonderful country,’ the prime minister said.
‘If you want to understand a country don’t go in a car with a motorcade go on a train with the population and buy a ticket at the ticket box.’
He was asked after the ceremony at the cricket if his experience backpacking in India differed much this time around.
‘It sure is (different) – it’s a highlight of my life being here today, and India and Australia have a great friendship,’ Mr Albanese told reporters.
The prime minister sang the national anthem arm-in-arm with captain Smith and the rest of the Australian team, and stayed for the start of play.
The leaders left the match after seven overs.
Mr Albanese is heading to Mumbai, where he will take part in a roundtable with Australian and Indian chief executives, promote Australian products at an expo and discuss ways to improve film-making collaborations with Bollywood.
He has made the trip with a major Australian business delegation in order to further boost trade ties.
‘It’s very important that we cement those ties even further. Towards the end of this year, I’m looking forward to an upgrade in the economic relationship between Australia and India,’ he said.
Speaking about the cricket, Mr Albanese (pictured, with Prime Minister Modi) said the two countries had a long and proud relationship and were celebrating 75 years of Test cricket this year
About 132,000 attended the stadium for the event
Work is underway on broadening the current Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement to include issues such as co-operation, sustainable development, digital trade and government procurement, as well as extra goods and services.
Another major reason for the visit is for Mr Albanese to announce that Indians will have their bachelor degrees, postgraduate qualifications, diplomas and senior high school certificates recognised in Australia.
It’s hoped the move will be a major boost for Australia’s healthcare system in particular, with the opportunity for a wave of new doctors and nurses to ease staff shortages.
The India Education Qualifications Recognition Mechanism means Australians will also have their qualifications recognised in India as part of a reciprocal arrangement between the two cricket-loving, Commonwealth democracies.
The Australian government announcement was made as Deakin University establishes India’s first overseas university-approved campus.
Mr Albanese will later visit the western naval command, which is responsible for Indian forces in the Arabian Sea, and meet with defence personnel who have taken part in exercises in Australia.
Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham on Thursday welcomed Mr Albanese’s comments that the relationship between the nations is at a high point.
India hosting the G20 summit in 2023 would also be critical in advocating for the end of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he added.
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