Oz PM meets Dr. Singh to apprise him of action taken against racist attackers

Melbourne, Sep 27 (ANI): Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd met his India counterpart Dr. Manmohan Singh to discuss the recent violent attacks against Indian students studying in Australia, and also to apprise him of action taken against the perpetrators of these attacks.

The attacks sparked vigorous protests in India and prompted recent visits to India by a string of Labor government ministers including Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, with the latest visit by Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard followed by Victoria premier John Brumby, who is in India at the present.

Rudd's spokesman said that the Australian premier will travel to India in November and both Rudd and Dr. Singh looked forward to the visit.

"The leaders noted the large number of Indian students in Australia," The Australian quoted Rudd's spokesman, as saying after the meeting with Dr. Singh on Saturday.

"They agreed that acts of violence were deplorable, and noted the strong actions by Australian authorities to respond to the attacks on Indian students," he added.

Rudd and Dr. Singh met before the final day of the Group of 20 meeting of world leaders in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Rudd's spokesman said they discussed the decision to make the G20 the key body for global economic governance over the G8, which excluded Asian, Muslim and South American countries, as well as Australia.

They also discussed one of Rudd's pet projects, a new Asia Pacific community which would allow nations in the region to discuss issues such as the economy, security and defence.

"Prime Minister Singh expressed his interest in Prime Minister Rudd's Asia Pacific community concept and the leaders agreed to co-operate further on the concept in future," Rudd's spokesman said. (ANI)