New Delhi - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Thursday said his government was committed to use the "full force" of the law to protect Indian students, seeking to allay New Delhi's concerns over recent attacks targeting them in the country. "As Prime Minister of Australia, I am deeply disturbed and disgusted by attacks of violence against any foreign students studying in our country as our guests," Rudd said in a foreign policy speech on India-Australia relations in New Delhi.
"There have been criminal attacks targeting Indian students for the little money they earn to support their studies. These attacks will not be tolerated," he said.
"They will be dealt with the full force of the Australian law enforcement and criminal justice systems," said Rudd who met his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh later on Thursday evening.
During the talks, Singh also expressed concern over the violence that has seen over 30 Indian students being attacked in Australian cities in the past six months.
"I have conveyed my concern to Prime Minister Rudd over the safety, security and the well-being of our students in Australia," Singh said in a joint presser with Rudd, adding that the latter had assured him that the authorities will take all possible measures in this connection.
"It is the responsibility of Australians to ensure the security of foreign students. We have work underway on this," Rudd said.
Rudd's visit is part of the damage control exercise taken up by the Australian government - several Australian ministers have visited India in recent months as the issue threatens both bilateral ties and the country's 14-billion-dollar international education industry.
An estimated 100,000 Indians, form the largest group of overseas students in Australia.
Both Rudd and Singh also explored ways to boost cooperation in the fields of defence, security, trade, industry and culture, but the visiting leader made it clear during his public functions earlier that Australia cannot change its policy on supplying uranium to India.
New Delhi has been making a pitch for purchase of uranium from Australia after the Nuclear Suppliers' Group last year lifted a 34- year old embargo on nuclear trade with India.
Both countries also decided to intensify cooperation in defence security as well as combating international terrorism. The two leaders discussed the possibility of a free-trade pact.
Earlier on Thursday, Rudd said Australia would make an investment of around 70 million dollars in India for green technology to combat the challenges both countries face in the energy, water, health and environment fields due to climate change.
Rudd arrived in the western Mumbai city on Wednesday evening in his first visit to India as prime minister.
Besides Singh, he met Indian leaders including President Pratibha Patil, Vice President Hamid Ansari and ruling United Progressive Alliance chairwoman Sonia Gandhi in his official engagements on Thursday.
From India, Rudd is due to fly to Singapore early Friday to attend the annual summit of leaders from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member economies.
