The bonhomie between the two leaders was visible in the many photos from Turnbull’s first visit to India in 2017. He has retired since and is currently touring India with his wife.
Malcolm Turnbull, Australia's former prime minister, has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi as an uplifting leader who is "making a huge difference" and given a perfect score to the partnership between India and Australia.
Numerous images during Turnbull's 2017 maiden visit to India attest to the cordial relationship between the two heads of state. Now that he's retired, he and his wife are taking a trip of India.
Speaking at the current 17th Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), Turnbull reflected on his "lovely visit" to India in 2017 and the moments he spent with Prime Minister Modi.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time here. At the funeral for our longtime friend Shinzo Abe, I recently saw him (Modi) in Japan. I had a great time being in Mr. Modi's company. Of course he's divisive even in his own nation. Turnbull told PTI that, from the outside looking in, the leader is inspiring and is obviously making a big impact.
Their friendship is "ten out of ten," according to the 29th prime minister of Australia, who noted that the two nations share many values, including a devotion to democracy, the rule of law, and a passion of cricket. A lack of trade is the sole issue, he stated.
Turnbull, who is also well-established in the business world, claims that he and Modi discussed this same matter.
“You have done a lot of business with China, and you have done a lot of business with India. Why have you done so little with India?” Modi asked when we first met. Turnbull recalled telling the foreign investor, "Honestly, doing business in India is too hard." The businessman had acknowledged the sentiment.
He characterized it as "crazy" that investing in China, a communist nation, was simpler than in India, a democracy.
Turnbull said that Australia would prefer less trade barriers between the two nations, but he refrained from criticizing India's "strong protectionist tradition," which, in his view, is something that every country handles differently.
But he did note that some progress had been made towards "closer economic partnerships," the talks for which had begun during his time in office and had only just concluded.
With the modest Free Trade Agreement (FTA) we have, our trade relations have improved, but there is still a long way to go, he noted.
Turnbulll discussed his autobiography, "A Bigger Picture," his extensive career as a journalist, banker, lawyer, businessman, and prime minister of Australia, as well as his belief that everyone should write about their life, "particularly if you are the PM of your country." All of this occurred during the course of the chat.
"An older biography is a bit like a highlight, you can't put everything in and you have got to focus on what are the key episodes or chapters of your life," someone rightly informed me once.
I made a sincere effort to ensure its accuracy. If you have ever been prime minister and have lived a full life, I highly recommend that you write. To tell your tale is, in my opinion, a debt you owe to the past, your people, and your nation. The tale belongs to everyone, but I mean, it's my story. Turbull, author of "The Spycatcher Trial" and "The Reluctant Republic" among other works, said as much.
His itinerary includes stops in Delhi, Agra, Varanasi, and Gujarat. He says, "Know what it is like to be the PM, he has got the country to run," in response to a question about whether he intends to visit his friend Prime Minister Modi as well.
When I ask him to come see me, I know he will be overjoyed to do so. By refraining from intruding on his time, I am demonstrating my respect. "The scarcest resource in the federal government is the prime minister's time," he said, echoing an old Australian adage that, in my opinion, holds true everywhere.
From now until February 5, the JLF 2024—hailed as the "biggest literary festival in the world"—will be hosting illuminating conversations with renowned authors, philosophers, and thinkers.
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