Srinagar, March 10 -- New Delhi, March 10 () Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday said that his country and India have agreed on an early conclusion of the ambitious comprehensive economic cooperation agreement, expecting it to be finalised by this year itself.

"I am hopeful that we will be able to finalise it this year," Albanese said during a joint press briefing with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after bilateral talks between the two leaders.

"Our teams are working on a comprehensive economic agreement between our two countries," PM Modi said during the joint briefing.

Meanwhile, he added that security cooperation is an important pillar in the comprehensive strategic partnership between India and Australia.

"We discu...