Ex-Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull Praises PM Modi, Describes India-Australia Friendship as Perfect 10

Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has lauded the friendship between Australia and India, giving it a perfect 10 out of 10 rating. Turnbull, who is currently visiting India with his wife and participating in the Jaipur Literature Festival, praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as an inspiring leader making a significant impact. He reminisced about his 2017 visit to India, expressing admiration for Modi and highlighting the commonalities between the two nations, such as a love for cricket, the rule of law, and democracy.

Turnbull, who acknowledged the controversy surrounding Modi in India, emphasized that their friendship is strong, rating it as a perfect 10. However, he noted the need to enhance trade relations between the two countries, citing challenges faced by foreign investors in India compared to the ease of doing business in China.

During their meeting, Modi and Turnbull discussed the difficulty of doing business in India as a foreign investor. Turnbull expressed his belief that it is "crazy" for China, a communist country, to be an easier place to invest than India, a democracy. While acknowledging India's strong protectionist tradition, Turnbull expressed Australia's desire to reduce trade barriers and strengthen economic partnerships.

Turnbull also discussed his autobiography, "A Bigger Picture," and encouraged individuals, especially former heads of state, to write about their lives. He acknowledged that writing a biography is like creating a highlight reel, focusing on key episodes or chapters. Turnbull is scheduled to visit Gujarat, Varanasi, Agra, and Delhi during his trip to India. He expressed his respect for Prime Minister Modi's time and the challenges of running the country, indicating that he may not request a meeting to avoid imposing on Modi's busy schedule during his India visit.

(With Agency Inputs)