CANBERRA—Despite some "irritants", Australia and India are embracing a closer relationship that will be cemented when Prime Minister Kevin Rudd visits the sub-continent later this year.
On Tuesday, Trade Minister Simon Crean, who returned from India at the weekend, confirmed Mr Rudd's long-awaited trip to New Delhi would take place in November.
Two previous planned visits by Mr Rudd had to be aborted because of Indian domestic issues.
The government has ramped up contact with New Delhi ahead of the November trip, trying to dampen lingering concerns about the safety and quality of Australia's international education sector, worth $15 billion a year.
There was a hiccup in relations after a spate of violent attacks that seemed to be directed at Indian students turned the spotlight on problems with the rapidly-growing export industry.
Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Julia Gillard spent five days in India last week and Treasurer Wayne Swan stopped over on his way back from the G20 meeting in London.
Mr Crean told AAP there was a commitment from both India and Australia that the education issue wouldn't derail the relationship.
"(There is a) desire on the part of both India and Australia to strengthen and broaden the relationship," he said.
"(Indian) Prime Minister (Manmohan) Singh made the point he was looking forward very much to Mr Rudd's visit and he was looking forward to strengthened relations between the two countries."
The Rudd government is working to fix the problems with the quality of the education product being offered to international students, as well as trying to ease some of the safety issues.
But it has made it clear it has problems with the way some Indian students try to use studying in Australia as a shortcut to getting permanent residency.
"We are selling quality education, we're not selling visas," Mr Crean said.
He said New Delhi acknowledged the issue would require cooperation from both sides.
"That is a serious attempt to come to grips with an irritant within the relationship and in a positive way," he said.
The two countries could also soon begin working on another avenue to strengthen economic relations - negotiations for a free trade deal.
A feasibility study on a free trade agreement was "near completion", Mr Crean said.
"Officials will meet again next week in Delhi to try to bring that to a conclusion," he said.
The two governments will then decide whether to move forward with negotiations for an FTA.
Mr Rudd's visit to India is expected to take place before the APEC leaders' summit in Singapore, which begins on November 14.
Mr Rudd will attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting, along with United States President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao.
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Friday, March 12, 2010
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