Modi Addresses Parliament as Abbott Promises Free-Trade Deal with India

Narendra Modi addressed the Australian Parliament on Tuesday, Nov. 18. He is the first Indian prime minister in 28 years to visit the country.

Modi received an enthusiastic welcome in Canberra while his speech indicated closer ties between India and Australia. He said that both countries had "familiar framework of democracy" as both had "deeply interlinked destinies." He called Australia as a "major partner" in several campaigns of his newly appointed government such as educating the Indian youth, connecting electricity to every house and giving shelter to the underprivileged. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott earlier promised a free-trade deal with India in the next 13 months, The Australian reported.

Modi called Australia as "the heart of the Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean region" even though it was considered a "distant land" sometimes back. Modi humorously referred to Abbott's "shirtfront" remark about Russian President Vladimir Putin. Abbott earlier said that he would "shirtfront" Putin over the MH17 tragedy. Modi said that Abbott's way of "shirtfronting" Australian MPs might be to allow foreign leaders to address the Parliament. He noted that two more national leaders, Britain's David Cameron and China's Xi Jinping, had earlier addressed Australia's Parliament.

Modi also noted that no Indian prime minister had visited "one of the most prosperous nations in the world" in the last 28 years, which should not have been so. However, he said that it was going to change as Australia would be at the centre of India's thoughts. There are few countries which have so much synergy like Australia, he said. Modi said that India would be a long term opportunity for Australia because of its demand, demographic and development. There is no other country in the world except India that can be an example of that nature, Modi said. He said that India will provide Australia "new economic opportunities" in return.

Abbott, on the other hand, referred to India as "the emerging superpower that is already a democracy." The free-trade agreement is expected to happen by the end of 2015, he said. He noted Modi's proactive approach which was similar to his own. "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 he said.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au