Top Indian officials visit to Australia will strengthen strategic ties: envoy

Chennai:

Australia’s strategic ties with India are set to strengthen with high level visits from Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Union Communications Minister Kapil Sibal and Defence Minister A K Antony to Canberra soon, according to new Australian High Commissioner Patrick Suckling

Addressing the 23^rd Annual Day of Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce here on Monday, Suckling, on his maiden visit to Chennai after assuming office, highlighted the growing ties between Australia and India after Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard visit to India last year.

He said that Gillard, who was on her three-day visit to India, has been instrumental is lifting the decade old ban on sale of Uranium to India. He said the ties between India and Australia is now a two-way traffic with both sides showing keen interest to strengthen it.

He said Australia is rethinking its outlook towards Asia and the focus is more on strengthening ties with India in maritime security. He said economic ties with India would strengthen further with trade to double within a decade. He said that India and Australia are working on a framework to sign free trade agreement called Comprehensive Economic Partnership which will be a springboard to diversify economic ties with both countries. He said the next round of negotiations will start on May. “There are some issues which has to be looked carefully,” he added.

He also said that that coal import to India will double to 200 million tonnes in next three years besides New Delhi is planning to triple LNG import from Australia.

He also said that the attacks on Indian students was not a racist one and Australian government has asked its states to be vigilant to stop such attacks. He said the Indian students were attacked as these students were spending more time on earning money rather than studying and returning on odd hours. “Since they were carrying huge money during odd hours, they were easy targets,” he added.he said such attacks have now come down.