Indian Australian community’s welfare important for New Delhi: Krishna

MELBOURNE - External Affair Minister S. M. Krishna has said the welfare of the Indian community in Australia is of paramount concern to New Delhi.

“I have had a productive and useful interaction with the Indian community, whose welfare remains a paramount concern to the Government of India and the Ministries of External Affairs and of Overseas Indian Affairs,” Krishna told Indian media here.

Describing his current visit to Australia as productive, Krishna said: “Over the last couple of days, I have had a series of excellent meetings with Australian federal ministers, such as Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd and the Minister for Resources, Energy and Tourism, Martin Ferguson, as also with the Honorable Governor and Premier of the Victoria Province.”

“Discussions have covered areas of mutual concern and interest. Naturally, this has included our interest in nuclear energy, uranium and the question of the problems faced by Indian students, which have fortunately improved,” he added.

Talking about his discussions with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Krishna said: “With Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd, my interaction was part of the on-going Framework Dialogue between the Foreign Ministers, in which we not only had free and frank discussions on a host of bilateral issues but also where we could bilaterally contribute towards global and regional issues that are critical to our strategic interest.”

“I believe this has been a constructive and fruitful engagement. I am happy that Foreign Minister Rudd has accepted my invitation to visit India later this year, so that we might continue our sharing of views and in identifying how our bilateral efforts might contribute towards global good and regional security,” he added. (ANI)