NEWSLINKS US EDITION COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Australian Prime Minister John Howard on Thursday told visiting External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh that there should be greater interaction between the two countries to strengthen bilateral ties.
Singh, on a week-long visit to Australia, conveyed Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's greetings to Howard.
Speaking to a television channel, Singh said that ties between the two countries, which had deteriorated after India conducted its nuclear tests, had improved considerably.
Earlier, Australian Defence Minister Peter Reith impressed on Singh the need for greater defence co-operation and to that end stressed on frequent visits by chiefs of staff. Singh and Reith also discussed setting up military training institutes in both countries.
Singh also met opposition Labour Party president Kim Beazley, who said he was hopeful of intensifying relations with India.
Asked about the United States of America's missile defence plan, Singh told mediapersons that there were four elements of the plan - non-proliferation, counter-proliferation, ballistic missile defence and deep strategic cuts - on which India concurred with the US viewpoint.
Singh denied that India regarded Pakistan as its enemy number one, but added that the latter had pursued a policy of compulsive hostility towards India.
PTI
ALSO SEE: Jaswant Singh makes a pitch for increased India-Australia trade
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
