PM Modi meets Australian PM Albanese in Johannesburg

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese in Johannesburg and the two leaders took stock of progress in cooperation in diverse areas, including defence and security, critical minerals, trade & investment and people-to-people ties. PM Modi met Albanese hours after he arrived in South Africa to attend the G20 Leaders' Summit.During the meeting, Albanese described the India–Australia partnership as “very strong” and said the economic relationship has scope to deepen further. He also conveyed condolences over the Delhi terror attack and the bus crash in Saudi Arabia, in which several Indian Umrah pilgrims lost their lives.
“We have much to discuss, and our relationship is very strong. I think the economic relationship we can strengthen further, and our defence and security ties are also very important going forward. And I look forward to our discussion today,” Albanese stated.The talks between the two leaders came a day after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong co-chaired the 16th India–Australia Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue (FMFD) in New Delhi — the fourth FMFD co-chaired by the two ministers.
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said both leaders expressed satisfaction at the deepening and diversification of cooperation between India and Australia in the last five years following the elevation of the relationship to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2020."Prime Minister Albanese offered his solidarity on the recent terror attack in India. The leaders committed to strengthen the global fight against terrorism," it said.
Earlier, upon his arrival in Johannesburg, PM Modi witnessed cultural performances by members of the Indian diaspora. He shared details of the event on X, praising the community for preserving cultural ties with India.

जोहान्सबर्ग में दक्षिण अफ्रीका के गिरमिटिया गीत 'गंगा मैया' की प्रस्तुति भावविभोर कर गई। इस गीत को तमिल में सुनना अपने आप में एक अनूठा अनुभव रहा! इसमें उन लोगों की आशा और दृढ़ संकल्प की भावना समाहित है, जो कई दशक पहले यहां आए थे। भले ही उन्हें कठिन चुनौतियों का सामना करना पड़ा,… pic.twitter.com/4wbdmdz21y

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 21, 2025

Another special part of this performance was the rendition in Tamil! This song carries with it hope and unbroken spirit of those who came here many years ago. 
Modi said that the cultural connection between India and South Africa remains “heartwarming and timeless.” “In Johannesburg, my young friends sang the Ganapati Prarthana, Shanti Mantra and other divine prayers with great devotion. Such moments reaffirm the enduring bonds between our people,” he said.