Anthony Albanese meets with India’s external affairs minister

Anthony Albanese has played host to India’s external affairs minister, chatting all things cricket, the economy and security.

Anthony Albanese has talked up Australia’s relationship with India ahead of his upcoming trip to the subcontinent. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Anthony Albanese has talked up Australia’s relationship with India ahead of his upcoming trip to the subcontinent.

The Prime Minister met with India’s external affairs minister S. Jaishankar at Kirribilli House on Saturday morning, where the pair chatted about everything from security issues to cricket.

Anthony Albanese meets with the Minister for External Affairs of the Government of India, Dr S. Jaishankar. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

“Our relationship goes from strength to strength,” Mr Albanese told the diplomat.

“I’ve already had a number of meetings with your Prime Minister. And our economic relationship is important.

“I think we have complementary economies. I look forward to strengthening that as well, as well as on security issues.”

The Prime Minister also confirmed Australia will host a key upcoming international naval exercise for the first time.

Defence forces from Australia, India, Japan and the United States will take part in Exercise Malabar later in the year.

Mr Albanese will visit India next month as two countries seek to finalise a trade deal following an interim agreement signed last April.

Mr Albanese is set to travel to India in March. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

The pair talked about everything from cricket to security. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

The trip was locked in following Mr Albanese's meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the final day of the G20 Summit in Bali.

It will be just one of two trips the Prime Minister will make to India in 2023, with Mr Albanese assuring he will back to attend the G20 summit in New Delhi in September.

“I, of course, am looking forward to being in India in just a few weeks’ time now for the bilateral visit. And I thank Prime Minister Modi for the invitation,” he told Dr S. Jaishankar

The March visit, which will include a business delegation, will line up with the Australian cricket team’s fourth test in Gujarat.

Mr Modi will travel to Australia later in the year for the 2023 Quad Summit, to be hosted by Mr Albanese.