PA/49/09 11 November 2009
Australian Prime Minister arrives in India today
Strategic relationship and booming trade on the agenda
The Australian Prime Minister, Mr Kevin Rudd, will visit India on Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 November 2009, his first visit to India as Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister’s travel to India follows the recent visits by the Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister, Julia Gillard, and Australia’s ministers for Immigration and Citizenship, Trade, Foreign Affairs and the Australian Treasurer. Together these visits demonstrate the first order priority Australia is giving to the relationship with India.
Mr Rudd will visit India for meetings with business and political leaders. His discussions will cover the full breadth of the fast growing Australia-India relationship including strategic affairs; our shared multilateral priorities; energy and climate change; sport; high-end science, technology and education collaboration; and the fast growing economic and trade partnership.
Mr Rudd will give two major addresses (on strategic affairs and the business relationship) during the visit.
Mr Rudd will meet Prime Minister Singh in New Delhi and will announce a series of important initiatives that will take the Australia-India relationship to the front rank of Australia’s international partnerships.
The Prime Minister’s visit had been planned for January 2009 but was delayed due to Dr Singh’s health and the Indian elections.
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