India-Australia civil n-deal procedures completed

India and Australia have completed all procedures of the civil nuclear agreement signed by them last year, it was announced on Sunday on the sidelines of the G20 Summit that got underway here.

"Another milestone achievement as 2 PMs announce complet'n of procedures for #IndiaAustralia Civil Nuclear Agreement," Vikas Swarup, spokesperson in the external affairs ministry, tweeted soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull in this Mediterranean resort city.

"With the completion of procedures, including administrative arrangements, the #IndiaAustralia Civil Nuclear Agreement will enter into force," Swarup stated.

India and Australia had signed the agreement during the visit of then Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott to New Delhi in September last year.

Five rounds of negotiations were held since 2012 before the milestone agreement was signed.

"PM @narendramodi and PM @TurnbullMalcolm discuss India-Australia relations in their first bilateral meeting," PMO India tweeted.

Turnbull assumed the office of the prime minister of Australia on September 15.

According to Swarup, Modi thanked Turnbull and "described the nuclear agreement as a milestone and source of trust and confidence".

In April, India signed another civil agreement with Canada during Modi's visit to that country.