Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott receives guard of honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan

NEW DELHI: Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott was given a ceremonial reception in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan here this morning ahead of his crucial meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Abbott, who arrived here last evening after stopping over in Mumbai for a function, will be calling on President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice President Hamid Ansari also.

Abbott was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan here. He was received by Modi at the lawns of Presidential house.

Abbott arrived from Mumbai last evening and he was received by Minister of State (Independent charge) for Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal.

In Mumbai, the Australian Prime Minister told business leaders yesterday that the purpose of his trip was "to acknowledge the importance of India in the wider world and acknowledge the importance of India to Australia's future".

He also announced a scheme to boost the numbers of Australians studying in India and met Indian cricketing great Sachin Tendulkar ahead of Australia's hosting of the World Cup next year.