Australian artists perform traditional aboriginal dance to welcome PM Modi

The Australian artists performed the traditional aboriginal dance to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Sydney today on the second leg of his four-city tour of the country.

rime Minister Modi, who arrived in Sydney after three days in Brisbane where he attended the annual G-20 Summit, was also gifted a boomerang by the Australian artists.

The Prime Minister, who will attend a community reception at the Alphonse Arena later in the day, was received at the airport on his arrival by President of Legislative Council of New South Wales Ton Harwil.

More than 16,000 members of the Indian diaspora will pack Allophones Arena at Olympic Park in Sydney to welcome Prime Minister Modi. Big screens have been installed outside the venue, and there is a festive atmosphere prevalent for the people wanting to attend or watch the event.

The volunteers, who have organized the event at Olympic Park, have promised a reception more grand than the one Prime Minister Modi received at the famous Madison Square Garden in New York during his U.S. visit.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi invited Australian businessmen to participate in India's ambitious plans for smart cities to cater its growing urban population.

Addressing the Queensland business community at a breakfast meeting hosted by the Premier of Queensland in Brisbane this morning, Prime Minister Modi said India had launched the 'Make in India' as a new mission to promote manufacturing in India.

He said it is expected that nearly eleven percent of the world's urban population in 2025 will be in India.

The Prime Minister said Queensland can be an important partner in India's development in the area of energy, mineral resources, agriculture, education, skill development and food security.

He said that India wants an integrated partnership in joint research to improve yield and farm productivity.

Prime Minister Modi described the India-Australia relationship as being comprehensive and involving economic cooperation. He also said that it was a growing security and strategic partnership, and suggested that increasing cooperation in international forums is vital for peace, stability and prosperity.

The Prime Minister will reach Australian capital Canberra this evening, where he is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with his Australian counterpart Tony Abbot and address a joint session of the Australian Parliament on Tuesday.