Message from Peter Varghese, High Commissioner of Australia

Peter Varghese, High Commissioner of Australia

The visit of Australia's Prime Minister, Mr Kevin Rudd, to India is a significant moment in the rapidly-expanding relationship between Australia and India. Since coming to office, Mr Rudd and his Government have sought to take the relationship with India to the front-rank of Australia's international partnerships.

Australia and India are two countries with shared interests and shared values. We are both pluralist democracies. We are both global in our outlook but also closely integrated into the Asian region. We have a shared commitment to the security of Asia and the Indian Ocean.

Indian PhD students are choosing Australia's high-end education institutions to further their academic careers. And our business people are trading innovative products and services, adding to our mutual prosperity. In 2008-09, two-way trade reached Rs 88,200 crore (A$21 billion).

Of course in a big relationship, there are sometimes complications and the recent incidents involving some Indian students have been deeply regrettable. Be assured that our authorities have responded strongly - convictions and court cases are proceeding.
Australia has a zero-tolerance approach to any racially-motivated crime. It is important to stress that Indian students are welcome in Australia, and, the great majority have productive and enjoyable stays in our country. We hope in time they will become living ambassadors for the bilateral relationship. Such people-to-people links are the lifeblood of relations between countries.

Mr Rudd's visit comes after an unprecedented series of high-level visits to India by senior Australian ministers in recent months. Australia's Deputy Prime Minister, Trade Minister, Treasurer, Immigration Minister and Foreign Minister have all visited to advance the relationship in their respective fields. And in the past two years, 10 Indian Ministers have visited Australia. There is no better way to demonstrate the growing ties that exist between our two countries - ties that will be further strengthened by the visit of Prime Minister Rudd.