New Delhi, September 3
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott arrives in New Delhi on Thursday, a visit that is expected to herald a new dimension in the Indo-Australian relations and take it beyond the shared interest in cricket, curry and the Commonwealth.

Abbott will also become the first head of state outside SAARC countries to visit India after the Narendra Modi government took charge in May.

Prior to his departure, the Australian premier said plan to sign a nuclear agreement was on the agenda. The Ministry of External Affairs remained guarded saying it expects a “significant outcome” during Abbott’s visit.

“I am hoping to sign a nuclear cooperation agreement that will enable uranium sales by Australia to India,” Abbott was quoted by PTI as saying in Australian Parliament ahead of his three-day visit.

He said if Australia was prepared to sell uranium to Russia then “surely we ought to be prepared to provide uranium to India under suitable safeguards”, pointing out it was a “fully functioning democracy with the rule of law”.

Australian polity was for long divided over the supply of nuclear fuel to India since it is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) till the Labour regime overturned the policy.

Abbott underscored that Australia will ensure adequate precaution in the form of bilateral safeguards before any deal is signed. Reports from Australia suggested the agreement with India is expected to double overall exports to $1 billion annually by 2018.

Australia holds about a third of the world’s recoverable uranium resources, and exports nearly 7,000 tonnes a year. The country is likely to emerge as a big source of uranium and gas.

While the supply of uranium remains high on the agenda, the bilateral visit is expected to see a push forward in areas such as defence and economy besides regional and international issues of interest.

India and Australia have upgraded their defence ties and last year AK Antony became the first-ever Defence Minister from India to pay a visit to the country. Briefing mediapersons on the forthcoming visit, Joint Secretary (South) Sanjay Bhattacharyya said India was expecting a “significant outcome” from the visit without seeking to confirm whether the two countries will sign the civil nuclear deal. India and Australia have held five rounds of “very productive” negotiations so far, the official added.

Abbot is accompanied by a delegation that includes Trade Minister Andrew Robb, who was quoted as saying: “While India is Australia’s fifth biggest export market and a valued investment partner, there is enormous scope to deepen the relationship.”

• Australian PM Tony Abbott has said if they can sell uranium to Russia then they must also be ready to provide uranium to India since it is a fully ‘functioning democracy with the rule of law’
• Australia has been divided over the supply of nuclear fuel to India since it is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
• The country will take adequate precaution in the form of bilateral safeguards before signing any deal, Abbott said
• The Ministry of External Affairs remained guarded saying it expects a “significant outcome” during Abbott’s visit