By IANS,
Melbourne : Describing India as “a rising power”, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Friday assured External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna that his government was taking all steps to ensure the safety and security of Indian students.
Rudd and Krishna held talks for 20 minutes and discussed a range of bilateral issues, including the security of nearly 100,000 Indian students in that country.
After talks with Rudd, Krishna underlined his satisfaction at the steps taken by the Australian government to prevent attacks on Indian students. “I am satisfied with the assurances give to me by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd,” Krishna said.
“Prime Minister Rudd is fully aware of the sensitivity of the issues concerning students. He informed about the remedial measures already taken by the government.”
“I am satisfied that the Australian government at federal and state levels are fully geared to meet the situation,” he said.
“Rudd described India as an emerging power and I am convinced that Indian students coming here will be safe and taken care of,” Krishna, who is on a five-day visit to Australia, said.
Krishna met New South Wales Premier Nathan Rees Thursday in Sydney. Rees had also assured Krishna that “firm action” would be taken against those responsible for attacks on Indian students.
Rees also told Krishna that inputs from the Indian community would be included in the action plan for international students that is being devised by the Australian government. During his trip, Krishna has interacted with Indian students and the Indian community to know first-hand problems faced by them.
The attacks on Indian students began in May, creating outrage in India and the diaspora community Down Under.
Krishna also participated in the Annual Post Forum Dialogue Meeting of the 16-nation Pacific Island Forum (PIF), at which India is a dialogue partner, in Cairns in northeast Australia. The forum focussed on issues like climate change and sustainable development.