PUBLISHED | MARCH 2, 2010
COMMENTS | NONE
Indian students fuel Foreign Minister's visit

Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith will be in India until this Thursday to reassure the Indian government that the Federal Government is taking Indian student safety seriously, following a significant drop in Indian tertiary enrolments this year.
Smith released a statement that said he would "brief the Indian Government on the actions taken by authorities to create a safe and rewarding study environment for Indian students in Australia" when he meets with his counterpart S M Krishna to "discuss Australia's and India's close cooperation in trying to solve the recent problems faced by some Indians in Australia".
The visit will also have a broader focus on advancing Australia and India's bilateral, regional and international cooperation under the framework of the Australia-India Strategic Partnership, said Smith, adding that he will also review security arrangements ahead of the Commonwealth Games later this year.