Krishna to arrive in Australia tomorrow

Natasha Chaku

Melbourne, Jan 18 (PTI) External Affairs Minister S MKrishna will arrive here tomorrow on a three-day visit toattend the third round of the framework dialogue with hisAustralian counterpart Kevin Rudd.

During his meeting with Rudd, Krishna is expected todiscuss a host of bilateral, regional and global issues,including closer collaboration on security issues in Asia andin multilateral economic groupings like G20.

Krishna''s visit is said to mark the concerted effortsthat the two sides are making at the government-to-governmentlevel to take bilateral relationship to the next level byencouraging high-level dialogue and engagement.

The two sides are expected to deliberate on manylevels including economic and strategic spheres.

There are speculations that the visiting ministercould again raise Uranium sale issue with Australia and alsodiscuss the proposed free trade area (FTA) pact. The two sideshave agreed to accept the feasibility report on the proposedFTA.

Apart from discussing ways to further cooperationbetween the two countries in business and trade, Krishna wouldalso like to know about the steps taken by the Australiangovernment to prevent attacks against Indian students.

In the past, Australia had said that India has becomean important player on the major global issues, not the leastclimate change and international trade.

The Australian government further said that it valueddialogue with the Indian Government on these and other globalissues and wanted to work with India to achieve outcomes whichserve the community of nations in a balanced way.

The last annual meet was held in India in 2009 and wasattended by the then foreign minister Stephen Smith.

According to official sources, Krishna would also meetthe ethnic Indian media and will also attend the Indiancommunity reception here on Thursday apart from newlyappointed Victorian premier Ted Belluie.

The minister is also likely to meet Prime MinisterJulia Gillard.

Krishna would be leaving back on Friday.