Australian Prime Minister Ms. Julia Gillard on Wednesday called on the President Pranab Mukherjee and held wide ranging discussions on bilateral and multilateral issues. The issues include trade and investment, energy, supply of resources for India’s economic development, education, and people to people contacts. The two leaders also discussed cooperation in multilateral forums such as G-20 whose summit Australia will host in 2014.

The President assured her that New Delhi is committed to strengthen its strategic partnership with Australia. Mr Mukherjee expressed appreciation for Australia’s support for India’s candidature in an expanded United Nations Security Council. He said the two countries should work together in reforming the international financial architecture and equipping institutions like the World Bank with the resources they need.