Melbourne, Nov 18 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday said a successful India will provide a vast opportunity for the world and sought Australia's role in Indian's urbanisation process.
“A successful India will be a vast opportunity and a force of good for the world. We look forward to closer partnership with friends like Australia,” Modi said at a dinner hosted by the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
“India is experiencing urbanisation at a rapid pace. Studies suggest that by 2031, 11 percent of the world's urban population might be in Indian cities,” Modi said.
He added that India already has more than 50 cities with a population of over one million.
“Urbanisation can be an enormous opportunity,” Modi said.
He spoke of his plans to build 100 smart cities, revive heritage cities, build modern solid waste management and waste water treatment systems in 500 cities, and clean up the country's rivers.
“This is part of our larger vision of a sustainable future for our country, and transforming the quality of life of our people in cities and villages alike,” the prime minister said.
He hoped that India could learn from Australia's experience and benefit from its expertise and noted that Melbourne is regarded as the best city in the world to live in.
Modi said he wanted to build a future in which every Indian can say that his life has improved and his environment has become better.
“I am confident that we will achieve it with the support of the people of India, and through the talent and energy of 800 million youth, below the age of 35 years," he said.
“(It is) a generation that is eager for change and committed to work for it,” the prime minister added.
Modi also stressed on the importance of relationships between people.
“One thing we all agree on. The bonds between the countries are made strong by the joined hands of our people,” the prime minister said at the reception.
The prime minister also spoke about the love for cricket that both India and Australia share.
“No business is serious enough to keep an Australian and an Indian from discussing this great game,” he said.
He recounted India's glorious cricket triumph here in the Champions Trophy in 1985 and said that the MCG would be a deserving venue for the final of the Cricket World Cup in 2015.
“I hope that our two teams will play that match,” Modi said.
The event was graced by Indian cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and V.V.S. Laxman as also former Australian captain Alan Border.
The prime minister also said that India can learn from Australia's famous sporting skills in other areas too.
“We have decided to collaborate on a sports university in India,” he revealed.
“Our exchanges in sports, tourism, education and culture are great sources of strength for our relationship,” he stated.
Modi said that he is greatly confident about the future of India-Australia ties.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott had visited India in September. He was the first guest since Modi took over as India's prime minister.
Modi, on the other hand, is the first Indian prime minister to visit Australia, since Rajiv Gandhi, 28 years ago.
"People asked me isn't it too soon to visit Australia after @TonyAbbottMHR just visited. I said, I can't say no to my friend Tony: PM," the Prime Minister's Office tweeted about the speech.
The prime minister thanked his Australian counterpart Abbott for being “truly generous with your hospitality and warmth”.
“My memorable visit to Australia ends tonight, but a new journey of our relationship has begun,” Modi said.
Modi had earlier attended the G20 Summit in Brisbane Nov 15-16, addressed a massive gathering of the Indian diaspora at Sydney Monday and addressed the Australian parliament in Canberra Tuesday, before coming to Melbourne.
He flies to Fiji Tuesday night on the last leg of his 10-day three-nation tour.
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