Australia rushes to catch 'Indian express' on trade

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SYDNEY, Aug 20 (AFP): The Australian government has backed a plan to negotiate a free trade agreement with India, a move which would radically reshape relations with the South Asian power, a report said today.
The conservative government of Prime Minister John Howard wants to enhance ties with New Delhi, which is becoming increasingly important to Australia economically and strategically, The Australian newspaper said.
A submission prepared by Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, and supported by cabinet, has outlined the new approach which would mirror Canberra's opening towards China in the 1980s and an earlier embrace of Japan, the paper said.
Discussion of the free trade agreement comes one week after Canberra agreed to sell uranium to India for energy use, despite New Delhi not being a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.