Australian Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard will visit India later this month in a bid to address concerns over the spate of recent attacks on Indian students here and to take the bilateral ties to a new high.

Gillard, also the Education Minister, will depart for India on August 30 on a five-day visit to New Delhi and Chennai.

Her visit will pave the way for Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's trip to India later this year. Australian Immigration Minister Chris Evans had also recently visited India.

Ahead of her visit, Gillard said the Australian government was committed to taking its relationship with India to a higher level and engaging with New Delhi on a long-term, strategic basis.

Gillard will use the visit to spruik recent efforts to improve the quality of education for overseas students, including the re-registration of education providers, 'The Australian' reported today.

The Australian Government has also announced a review of its international education sector, including laws governing student visas, by former federal Liberal MP Bruce Baird in the wake of recent assaults on Indian students and claims that they were being targeted in scams by private education providers.

On her trip to New Delhi and Chennai, Gillard will visit educational institutions and meet Indian students who have studied in Australia.

She will also meet Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal and other government officials.

Source: Indian Express