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Rudd to appease India over student attacks

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-06-01 17:34

CANBERRA -- Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd reassures New Delhi that Australia isn't a racist nation, amid attacks against Indian students that threaten to disrupt relations between the two countries.

Rudd on Monday warned the attacks threatened to "impair" the good relations between Australia and India.

The Australian government is committed to developing a stronger, closer relationship with India, he said, also committed to the safety of all Australians and all those that visit our nation.

The government has been keen to build the relationship with India, one of the powerhouse economies of Asia with a growing middle class that offers many trading opportunities for Australia, Rudd said.

The violence has made headlines around the world and India has warned it could jeopardize Australia's lucrative education sector, which earns 2 billion Australian dollars ($1.6 billion) annually from Indian students.

There are currently more than 90,000 Indian students residing in Australia.

There are believed to have been more than 70 assaults of Indian students during the past year, culminating in a number of stabbings in the Australian city of Melbourne last week.