Oz assures Sibal on safety of Indian students

Melbourne, Apr 7: Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith assured HRD Minister Kapil Sibal that all steps have been taken to ensure safety of Indian students here.

Sibal, who is in Australia on a visit, met Smith on Tuesday, Apr 6, at Perth and held talks on the educational links between the two countries.

Smith said, "We discussed the ongoing steps that Australian Governments are taking to ensure that Indian students in Australia remain safe and return home with a first class education and a great Australian experience."

"We also looked to the future of the Australia-India education relationship, which presents enormous opportunities to deepen collaboration across all sectors from vocational education and training to higher education and postgraduate studies," he added.

The visit assumes significance in the wake of over 100 incidents of assaults against Indian students being reported in Australia.

Sibal will also meet deputy Prime Minister and minister for education Julia Gillard and hold the annual Australia-India Ministerial Dialogue of Education Cooperation in Melbourne later this week.

OneIndia News