Prime Minister Modi visits Australian War Memorial

Prime Minister Narendra Modi started of his day this morning by visiting the War Memorial here where he paid his tributes to those Australians who had died at war while serving their country.

He was also accompanied by his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott, where he laid a wreath in the Hall of Memory . Prime Minister Modi observed few minutes of silence at the memorial as a mark of respect and signed the visitor's book here before he left.

During his visit at the War Memorial to commemorate his visit today, Prime Minister Modi presented a replica of the Man Singh Trophy - a prized possession of Sikh regiment battalions - to his Australian counterpart.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott for summit talks here on Tuesday following which the two countries signed five pacts.

Prime Minister Modi will also be addressing in a special joint sitting of the Australian Parliament shortly.

Earlier on Monday, he arrived in Canberra on the third leg of his four-city tour of Australia from Sydney- a short 30-minute flight on a special Air India plane. He was received by Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, reflecting the significance attached by Australia to the visit of Prime Minister Modi that comes 28 years after Rajiv Gandhi.

Yesterday during his visit to Sydney, Prime Minister Modi received a thunderous welcome by Indian expats. While addressing the Indian community in Allphones Arena, Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed the decision by his government to provide lifetime visas to all persons of Indian origin (PIO) and overseas citizens of India (OCI) card holders, promising to implement it by January 2015.

After addressing the Australian parliament here, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to travel to Melbourne, before departing for Fiji for the third leg of his three-nation, 10 day trip.