Indian prime minister Narendra Modi touches down in Sydney, Australia ahead of talks

Modi mania: Indian Prime Minister receives a rockstar welcome in Australia as he touches down in Sydney ahead of talks with Anthony Albanese

  • India’s PM Narendra Modi landed in Sydney
  • He received a warm welcome from the Indian community
  • PM Modi to hold talks with Anthony Albanese 

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flown into Australia and received a rockstar welcome from the Indian community ahead of planned talks with Anthony Albanese.

Mr Modi touched down in Sydney Airport on Monday night, where he was greeted by Australia’s high commissioner to India, Barry O’Farrell, and NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, who is the son of migrants from the Punjab region.

Pictures show Mr Farrell and a number of diplomats welcoming India’s leader with the traditional Hindu greeting of ‘Namaste’. 

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi (pictured) has touched down in Australia ahead of planned talks with Anthony Albanese

Mr Modi received a warm reception from several members of the Indian community after he landed in the country on Monday night

Mr Modi received a warm reception from several members of the Indian community after he landed in the country on Monday night

He is also seen greeting several members of the Indian community who gave him a warm reception.  

Thousands of members of the Indian diaspora will gather for prime minister Modi’s whistle-stop tour of the harbourside city.

Mr Modi will attend a community event to be held at Qudos Bank Arena on Tuesday night.

About 20,000 ecstatic supporters, mostly from the Indian community, are expected to attend. 

It’s understood Mr Modi will retrace steps taken in his last Australian visit eight years ago at the event.

The Indian Australian Diaspora Foundation said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese would also attend in ‘a momentous occasion to strengthen bilateral relations’. 

Talks between the two leaders are expected to focus on strengthening the countries’ relationship through defence, trade, renewable energy and business.

Mr Albanese is also under pressure to raise human rights concerns with Mr Modi, who has been accused of cracking down on freedom of speech in India to shield his government from domestic criticism over the treatment of minorities.

Diplomats greet India's prime minister Modi including Australia's high commissioner to India, Barry O'Farrell (left)

Diplomats greet India’s prime minister Modi including Australia’s high commissioner to India, Barry O’Farrell (left)

Mr Modi will attend a community event to be held at Qudos Bank Arena on Tuesday night. About 20,000 people, mostly from the Indian community, are expected to attend

Mr Modi will attend a community event to be held at Qudos Bank Arena on Tuesday night. About 20,000 people, mostly from the Indian community, are expected to attend

Mr Albanese said ahead of Mr Modi’s arrival the visit would be a chance to hold serious discussions about the Indo-Pacific. 

‘Australia and India share a commitment to a stable, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific,’ he said on Monday.

‘Together we have an important role to play in supporting this vision. As friends and partners, the relationship between our countries has never been closer.

‘I look forward to celebrating Australia’s vibrant Indian community with Prime Minister Modi in Sydney.’

During his two-day visit to the country, Mr Modi is expected to drop by Indian businesses in western Sydney for the unveiling of a foundation stone at the entrance to ‘Little India’ at Harris Park.

One in three residents of Harris Park was born in India, 10 times the share in Greater Sydney or elsewhere in Australia, and the suburb is home to a bustling retail and dining precinct showcasing the best of the subcontinent.

It's understood prime minister Modi will retrace steps taken in his last Australian visit eight years ago at the event

It’s understood prime minister Modi will retrace steps taken in his last Australian visit eight years ago at the event

Anthony Albanese (pictured) will hold talks with Mr Modi, which are expected to focus on strengthening the countries' relationship through defence, trade, renewable energy and business

Anthony Albanese (pictured) will hold talks with Mr Modi, which are expected to focus on strengthening the countries’ relationship through defence, trade, renewable energy and business

Mr Modi last visited the country in 2014. 

His visit comes after the scheduled Quad leaders summit this week in Sydney was cancelled after US President Joe Biden pulled out due to domestic issues surrounding the debt crisis.

Instead the Quad leaders met on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Japan over the weekend.

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