Damage Control Move: Australian PM to Visit India
To reinforce ties with India in the wake of racist attacks on Indian students, Australia will mount three high-profile visits to India, including by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, to India this year.
“Three high-profile visits by Australian leaders were being planned that include Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Foreign Minister Stephen Smith,” External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said.
On a five-day visit to Australia, Krishna said, “we are looking forward to these three high-profile meetings that will be held in India.”
According to reports, Rudd may visit India in November.
“I had a meeting with Indian community leaders, Indian students, premier of New South Wales Nathan Rees and today itself I had a meeting with prime minister.”
“I am quite satisfied that Australian government and state government are very very clear so far what kind of relations they want with India and they want very positive and coordial relationship,” he added.
Krishna is the first senior Indian leader to visit Australia to convey New Delhi’s concerns over the attacks on Indian students in the country. At least 22 Indian students have been attacked Down Under in recent weeks.
