PM to visit India, Singapore

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd heads to India this week for his first visit to one of
Australia's key economic and strategic partners.

Stronger relations with New Delhi have been a priority for the Rudd government but
two earlier attempts by Mr Rudd to visit the sub-continent had to be shelved.
The prime minister's two-day visit to Mumbai and New Delhi, beginning on Wednesday,
will give the federal government another opportunity to reassure India that its
student population is welcome in Australia.
Mr Rudd is the most senior member of the government to tread the path to India after
an outcry over the treatment of Indian students in Australia.
There was anger in India - with some burning Mr Rudd's effigy - after Indian
students were seemingly targeted in violent attacks in Melbourne and Sydney.
The violent episodes were coupled with emerging concerns about the standard of
courses provided to students by some education operators.
Education is Australia's third biggest export, bringing in more than $15 billion
each year.
India sends the second largest number of students to Australia after China but there
are fears that figure could take a hit after recent events.
The highlight of Mr Rudd's visit will be a meeting with Indian Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh on Thursday.
He will also get a chance to indulge in one of his predecessor's favourite pastimes
when he attends the cricket in Mumbai, where he will meet a variety of Indian
business leaders.
An issue Canberra and New Delhi haven't seen eye to eye on is the Rudd government's
refusal to sell uranium to India because it isn't a signatory to the nuclear
non-proliferation treaty (NPT).
The matter is expected to be raised during the visit ahead of a review of the NPT
next year.
Australia and India may use the visit to announce the start of negotiations towards
a free trade agreement after a feasibility study reportedly found a deal to be
favourable to both countries.
India is Australia's fourth biggest export market and, like China, is crucial to
growth prospects over the coming decades.
From India, Mr Rudd heads to Singapore for the 17th annual summit of leaders from
the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies, on November 14-15.
The prime minister will use his three-day visit to focus on a range of issues,
including climate change, a conclusion to the Doha round of world trade talks and
his long-term proposal for an Asia-Pacific Community.
Other world leaders heading to Singapore include United States President Barack
Obama, Chinese President Hu Jintao and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono.
The trip to Asia will be Mr Obama's first to the region and will be eagerly watched
as a pointer to his administration's engagement with the Asia-Pacific.
Mr Rudd is expected to have a formal meeting with Dr Yudhoyono but it is unclear
whether he will meet Mr Hu or Mr Obama officially or on the sidelines of the summit.
APEC comes at a time when regional people-smuggling is a growing problem for
Australia and the Rudd government.
The issue isn't officially on the APEC agenda but will probably feature strongly on
the sidelines of the summit.
Leaders will also use the summit to give further momentum to the course set at the
recent G20 meeting in Pittsburgh aimed at preventing the international community
falling victim to another financial crisis.
Mr Rudd will return home next Monday for his apology to the Forgotten Australians.