PM Narendra Modi congratulates new Australian PM

New Delhi, Sep 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday congratulated Malcolm Turnbull on his appointment as the new prime minister of Australia.

"Turnbull and I spoke a short while ago. I congratulated him and conveyed best wishes. I also thanked him for his birthday greetings," an official statement quoted Modi as saying.

Modi also spoke to former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott and "appreciated his efforts in improving ties between India and Australia".

Former minister Malcolm Turnbull was sworn in as Australia's new prime minister on Tuesday, a day after Tony Abbott was defeated in ruling Liberal Party's leadership ballot.

IANS