Australian FM looking forward to Mumbai visit

New Delhi, Oct.14 (ANI): Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, who is presently on a visit to India, has termed his interaction with Indian leaders and other officials as fruitful, and said he was looking forward to his visit to Mumbai.

Smith will leave for Mumbai on Thursday.

While in Mumbai, Smith will pay homage to scores of people who die in terror attack on November 26 last year. There were two Australian nationals among the over 166 dead.

"I have had a very good series of meetings in New Delhi. I'm now off to Mumbai. So, looking very much forward to going to Mumbai to speak to Australian and Indian business community. And, also to commemorate the tragic deaths that we saw in the terror attacks in Mumbai... Two Australians of course died. I had a very good conversation with the minister (India's Home (interior) Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram) and I had a very productive couple of days in Delhi," Smith said.

Smith had arrived in India on October 12 on a five-day visit.

Earlier in the day, Smith reviewed the progress of various facilities for the Commonwealth Games, which will be staged in New Delhi in 2010.

He expressed his satisfaction over the work achieved so far.

The two countries are expected to increase commercial ties and cooperation in defence and issues of counter-terrorism and climate change. (ANI)