Australian FM to brief media twice on India Visit
By ANITuesday, March 2, 2010
NEW DELHI - Visiting Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith will be interacting with the media twice on Tuesday, and it is expected that he will be briefing them about key aspects of his visit to India.
According to the Australian High Commission here, Smith will have his first meeting with the media at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium between 2.40 p.m. and 3 p.m.. His second interaction will take place at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium at 8 p.m. ahead or during the World Cup hockey match between India and Australia, which has been designated as a “Friendship Hockey Match”.
Earlier, in a statement issued ahead of his visit to India, Smith said the March 2 to 4 trip was his third visit to India as Foreign Minister.
“My visit to India will advance Australia and India’s bilateral, regional and international cooperation under the framework of the Australia-India Strategic Partnership. I will also brief the Indian Government on the actions taken by authorities to create a safe and rewarding study environment for Indian students in Australia. I will meet with Minister for External Affairs S M Krishna, following on from our meeting in London in January,” Smith said.
“Minister Krishna and I will discuss Australia’s and India’s close cooperation in trying to solve the recent problems faced by some Indians in Australia. We will also discuss our common interests and the range of international political and economic issues,” he added.
“I will also discuss Australia-India education, science and technology links and the importance of trade and agriculture to our two countries, as well as discuss the progress in the joint Australia-India Free Trade Agreement feasibility study. I will brief the Indian Government on Australia’s recently announced Counter-Terrorism White Paper. I will also seek an update on security arrangements for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi later this year,” he said.
This week I will visit the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium which will serve as the main stadium in October. (ANI)
