SYDNEY >> Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi struck new agreements Wednesday along with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese on migration and inexperienced hydrogen, whereas elevating considerations about assaults on Hindu temples in Sydney.

Modi was welcomed Tuesday by round 20,000 cheering followers, many chanting “Modi,” at a Sydney stadium for his second go to to Australia as India’s chief.

But his go to has additionally been protested by activists who accuse his authorities of proscribing Muslim and different minorities’ rights, in addition to press freedom. Anti-Modi posters appeared round Sydney, and Hindu temples in Sydney’s west have been lately vandalized. Sikhs have additionally used the go to to demand a separate state.

Modi, a Hindu, mentioned he had raised the problem of assaults on temples with Albanese, who assured him that authorities would take “strict actions” towards the culprits.

“We will not accept any elements that harm the friendly and warm ties between India and Australia by their actions or thoughts,” Modi instructed reporters by way of an interpreter in a joint press convention with Albanese. Neither chief took questions.

The Indian diaspora accounts for less than 3% of Australia’s inhabitants however is the nation’s quickest rising ethnic minority. Modi described the diaspora as the true power within the rising bilateral relationship.

Modi is the one chief of the Quad nations to proceed along with his scheduled go to to Australia after U.S. President Joe Biden pulled out of a deliberate assembly of the group in Sydney to return to Washington to concentrate on debt restrict talks. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who hosted a Group of Seven summit final week, later canceled his Australia journey as nicely.

Modi arrived Monday evening in Sydney from Papua New Guinea, the place he hosted a gathering with Pacific Island leaders to debate methods to higher cooperate.

Modi and Albanese’s assembly Wednesday “reinforced their commitment to an open, prosperous and secure” Indo-Pacific area, the Australian prime minister’s workplace mentioned in a press release.

The prime ministers introduced a brand new migration settlement that can promote two-way mobility of scholars, graduates, educational researchers and enterprise individuals. They additionally agreed on the phrases of reference on a bilateral Green Hydrogen Task Force that can promote cooperation on producing the gasoline with out use of fossil fuels.

The leaders mentioned they count on to finish negotiations on a free commerce deal earlier than the tip of the 12 months. They additionally introduced new diplomatic posts in Bengaluru, India, and Brisbane, Australia.

Modi final visited Australia in November 2014, simply months after his authorities was first elected.