At the 17th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull expressed his admiration for the friendship between India and Australia, rating it a perfect 10 out of 10. Turnbull, who is touring India with his wife, commended the ties between the two nations during his address at the literary festival on February 2.
Speaking about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Turnbull referred to him as an inspiring leader who is “making a huge difference.” He shared his positive experience of meeting PM Modi during a recent visit to Japan, attending the funeral of their mutual friend Shinzo Abe.
“I enjoyed Mr. Modi’s company enormously…from the outside, [he’s] an inspiring leader and clearly making a huge difference,” stated Turnbull, as reported by PTI.
Turnbull, an established businessman, highlighted the commonalities shared by India and Australia, including a love for cricket, adherence to the rule of law, and democratic values. While expressing his admiration for the strong friendship between the two countries, he pointed out a challenge, stating, “The only problem is we don’t do enough trade.”
Recalling a conversation with PM Modi, Malcolm Turnbull mentioned being questioned about Australia’s limited business deals with India. He candidly acknowledged that India, as a democracy, posed challenges for foreign investors compared to investing in China, which, being a communist country, was perceived as an easier place for business.
Turnbull called for reducing trade barriers between India and Australia while respecting India’s long-standing protectionist tradition. He emphasized the need for closer economic partnerships and acknowledged the progress made with the existing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) but acknowledged that there is still a long way to go.
The Jaipur Literature Festival, touted as the “biggest literary festival in the world,” is set to continue until February 5, bringing together prominent thinkers, writers, and speakers from across the globe. The festival serves as a platform for intellectual discussions and cultural exchange, fostering a vibrant literary community.
