India and Australia will cooperate each other in the field of energy and strengthen their economic and cultural ties. Speaking to media in Rashtrapati Bhavan after she was given a ceremonial reception, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said her visit will strengthen the bi-lateral relations between the two countries. Ms. Julia Gillard is on a three day visit to India.
Ms Gillard will hold delegation level talks with her counterpart Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today. She will also call on President Pranab Mukherjee. Australian Prime Minister will also meet UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj.
AIR correspondent reports bilateral relations between India and Australia were elevated to the level of a strategic partnership during the visit of Prime Minister Kevin rudd to India in November 2009. The visit of Prime Minister Ms. Gillard will lead to strengthening of the cooperative relations between the two countries, and will provide further impetus for the future development of the strategic partnership. Australia had previously ruled out exporting the ore as India has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, but Ms. Gillard reversed the policy last year in an effort to improve ties with one of Asia's biggest economies.