Anthony Albanese showered in petals as he begins three day trade trip to India
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has received a rapturous welcome in India at the start of a whirlwind three day trade trip and a visit to the Fourth Test.
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Within four hours of touching down in Ahmedabad on his three day whirlwind trip to India, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had given two speeches, been drenched in petals for Holi and paid a quick visit to the one-time home of India’s independence leader Mahatma Gandhi.
Stepping into a sweltering heat shortly after his plane touched down, the Prime Minister was welcomed by traditional Gujarati musicians and dancers as his motorcade passed on its way to a whistle-stop visit to the Sabarmati Ashram, the museum which preserves the house where Gandhi lead the independence movement between 1917 and 1930.
The Prime Minister was shown the bedroom and study where Gandhi worked at the ashram and was later given demonstration of a traditional Indian cotton spinning wheel, which is depicted at the centre of India’s national flag.
The Prime Ministerial motorcade then moved on to Raj Bhawan, the residence of the Governor of Gujarat state.
There he watched a number of performances by musicians and dancers from various states of India before a clearly delighted Prime Minister was drenched in yellow petals as part of the celebration of Holi which coincided with his arrival in India.
The PM also delivered a speech in which he reminisced about his first trip to India as a young man in 1991 rode trains buses and hitchhiked his away around the country, saying “it was one of the honours of my life” to return as Prime Minister.
“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,” he 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.”
After sitting down to high tea the Mr Albanese’s motorcade moved into central Ahmedabad where he delivered another speech at a function to celebrate Deakin’s go ahead to open the first campus of an Australian university in India.
In his speech to the gathering the PM gave more details on the bilateral agreement signed last week by Education Minister Jason Clare and his Indian counterpart that see the degrees from each country’s universities recognised.
“This new mechanism means if you’re an Indian student who is studying or about to study in Australia you hard earned degree will be recognised when you return home or if you are member of Australia’s large Indian diaspora – 800,000 and growing – you’ll be able to feel more confident that your Indian qualification will be recognised in Australia,” he said.
“It is the most comprehensive and ambitious arrangement that has been agreed to by India with any country.”
The deal he said will open the way for Australian education providers to offer innovative and accessible education to Indian students.
Thursday’s itinerary promises to be even more hectic.
In the morning the PM will watch the first day of the Fourth Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium with its namesake, his Indian counterpart then fly to Mumbai before travelling on to New Delhi.
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