New Delhi

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his successful three-nation tour that further strengthened India's relations with Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand.

Sources said that the ministers during the Cabinet meeting, the first after Prime Minister Modi returned home last weekend, hailed him for boosting the country's global image.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh moved a resolution at the meeting praising the prime minister for his visit to three foreign countries, which was adopted unanimously amid applause, they said.

The ministers said that the visit had strengthened India's relations with Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand, according to the sources.

In Australia, an agreement on civil nuclear energy to facilitate the commercial supply of uranium from Australia to India to fuel New Delhi's nuclear power projects was sealed after over two years of negotiations, and it followed nearly 12 years after the two countries inked a historic civil nuclear cooperation pact.

In another significant decision, India and Australia decided to work expeditiously to firm up the proposed Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement as well as a bilateral investment protection framework to further enhance the trade and investment relations.

A joint declaration on defence and security cooperation, a maritime security collaboration roadmap, a joint statement on energy security, and a partnership for cyber, critical technologies and supply chains were among 18 pacts signed following summit talks between the two prime ministers.

Modi later visited New Zealand, the first by an Indian head of state after 40 years, where he held summit talks with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and both leaders reinforced the vital role of the bilateral partnership in ensuring a peaceful Indo-Pacific.

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A major highlight of the summit talks between the two leaders was their focus on significantly ramping up defence ties, especially in the maritime domain.