India today thanked AustralianPrime Minister Julia Gillard for taking a "political risk" bydeciding to positively reverse a long-term policy of notsupplying uranium to it.
This was conveyed by External Affairs Minister S MKrishna, who called on her and discussed other key bilateraland international issues, including situation in Afghanistan.
"Krishna thanked her for positively reversing the uraniumsupply policy to India, a non-NPT member, and a risk she hastaken politically while doing so," official sources said.
The External Affairs Minister also put forth theimportance of nuclear power for energy-deficient India, theysaid.
The two leaders also talked about the various steps takenby Australia to ensure safety and security of Indian students.
Krishna and Gillard, who arrived here on Monday fromAfghanistan, also discussed the situation in Afghanistan andpost-2014 scenario after the withdrawal of the Western combatforces. Australia has largest non-NATO troop presence.
Later, Gillard called on President Pranab Mukherjee andheld wide-ranging discussions on bilateral and multilateralissues.
The discussions covered issues relating to trade andinvestment, energy, supply of resources for India's economicdevelopment, education, and people-to-people contacts, arelease from Rashtrapati Bhawan said, adding the two leadersalso discussed cooperation in multilateral forums such as G-20whose summit Australia will host in 2014.
The President said India was committed to strengthen itsstrategic partnership with Australia and expressedappreciation for Australia's support for India's candidaturein an expanded UN Security Council.
He also said the two countries should work together inreforming the international financial architecture andequipping institutions like the World Bank with the resourcesthey need.