PM in Bangkok: Narendra Modi meets Australian PM Scott Morrison

MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted: "Bridging the geographical distance PM @narendramodi had an engaging conversation with Australian PM
@ScottMorrisonMP towards deepening & diversifying our relationship. Leaders discussed preparing for a substantive outcome during Australian PM visit to India in January 2020."

Modi also met Japanese PM Shinzo Abe and Vietnam PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc earlier in the day.

Meanwhile, the much awaited third Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Summit got underway here on Monday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top leaders and government heads of 15 countries including China, Japan and New Zealand are attending the meet.

All the leaders posed for a group photograph holding each other's hands.

India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand and ten ASEAN nations are negotiating the RCEP deal for last many years.

The RCEP deliberations in Bangkok on Monday have assumed significance on the backdrop of global trade tensions particularly due to conflicts between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

A breakthrough in the deal will facilitate creation of the biggest free-trade region in recent times as the 16-nation grouping is home to 3.6 billion people that accounts for nearly half the world's population.

Politically back home, the opposition parties in India have opposed RCEP deal. 

Image: Raveesh Kumar Twitter page