Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd concluded his visit to India on a positive note with the commitment that ‘full force’ of the law will be used to protect Indian students and allayed New Delhi’s concerns over recent attacks targeting them in his country.

This was Rudd’s first visit to India as Prime Minister. Besides Singh, he met Indian leaders including President Pratibha Patil, Vice President Hamid Ansari and ruling United Progressive Alliance chairwoman Sonia Gandhi in his official engagements.

Bilateral Cooperation

India is Australia’s sixth largest trading partner and over the last five years, India has been the fastest growing market for Australian exports. India contributes substantially to Australia’s revenue through the international students it sends.

During the bilateral talks, both Rudd and Singh explored ways to boost cooperation in the fields of defence, security, trade, industry and culture. Both the countries decided to intensify cooperation in defence and security areas and combat international terrorism. They also discussed the possibility of a free-trade pact. A CEOs forum to boost economic ties was also discussed.

Student Attacks

In a major foreign policy speech at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), Rudd aired his “disgust” at attacks on Indian students and assured that criminal attacks of this nature will not be tolerated. “As Prime Minister of Australia, I am deeply disturbed and disgusted by attacks of violence against any foreign students studying in our country as our guests,” Rudd said at the Indian Council for World Affairs.

“They have been criminal attacks targeting Indian students for the little money they earn to support their studies. These attacks will not be tolerated,” he stressed. “They will be dealt with by the full force of the Australian law enforcement and criminal justice systems,” said Rudd, who began his two-day visit to India in the shadow of fresh attacks on Indian students in Melbourne. “The Australian government is committed to doing its utmost to guarantee that the sons and daughters (that) Indian parents entrust to the care of the Australian community remain safe and come home with a valuable education and wonderful memories,” he said. “They will be dealt with the full force of the Australian law enforcement and criminal justice systems,” said Rudd.

Several Australian ministers have already visited India in recent months as the student attacks threaten both bilateral ties and Australia’s 14-billion-dollar international education industry. An estimated 100,000 Indians, form the largest group of overseas students in Australia.

Long Innings

In his speech at ICWA, Rudd, using a cricket analogy, said that India and Australia should go in for a long solid innings rather than a 20-20 match marked by short bursts of enthusiasm and “a waxing and waning interest between our two countries”.

Acknowledging India’s emergence as a significant global player, Rudd backed New Delhi’s push to become a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) forum and hinted a genuine strategic partnership that will cover closer political, economic, defence and energy ties.

In a unique gesture, Rudd, while addressing an India Business Lunch in the capital, doffed his hat at Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and said, “I congratulate Sachin Tendulkar on achieving the outstanding milestone of 17,000 One Day International runs”. Tendulkar reached the milestone during the recently concluded One day series against Australia. He also conveyed the respect Tendulkar commands in Australia and said, “From one cricket-mad nation to another, we salute the ‘Little Master’.”

Uranium Sale

Even while lauding India’s nuclear non-proliferation record, Rudd, stuck to Canberra’s position of not selling uranium to countries which have not signed the NPT, but indicated such a possibility in the future. India has been making a pitch for purchase of uranium from Australia after the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group last year lifted a 34-year old embargo on nuclear trade with India. Rudd hastened to add that this “is not a policy directed at India”. “It applies globally and is there since 1978 under different Australian governments. The government understands that India looks to the day when its ambitious civil nuclear energy programme can include Australian uranium,” he said.

Rudd recalled that Australia, which has nearly 40 percent of the world’s uranium reserves, was an active supporter in the Nuclear Suppliers Group for lifting the nuclear moratorium against India following the US-India nuclear deal.

Key to Success

Observers say the visit was successful and demonstrated Australia’s interest to engage India under a new focus. The reigning perception that Canberra has long ignored the economic and strategic relationship with India is being addressed. The challenge is to take it to a new level in terms of strategic trust and diplomatic cooperation.

Perhaps the next level of deeper engagement could be a flexible policy from Austrialian side in Uranium exports to India for civil purposes. That would be a magic bullet to change the relationship and can symbolically convey that Australia is too serious about a strategic partnership with India.