India and Australia are set to pack more punch in their bilateral ties Wednesday by announcing the start of civil nuclear negotiations, which, according to visiting Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, could take 'one or two years'.
Gillard, who is currently on a three-day visit to India -- her first trip to the country as the prime minister, will hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday.
Before beginning the talks, a ceremonial reception will be held in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan for the visiting Australian leader.
Issues relating to civil nuclear deal are set to figure prominently in the discussions. The two leaders are expected to announce the start of civil nuclear negotiations, paving the way for the sealing of the nuclear deal which could remove the last festering issue in the bilateral relationship.
Ahead of the talks, Gillard struck a realistic note on the prospects of the nuclear deal. A report published in Australian daily The Sydney Morning Herald, quoted her saying that uranium sales to India will not start quickly.
Gillard said negotiating the agreement is 'likely to take one or two years, rather than months', the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
According to the report, Gillard said Australia knew how to negotiate a proper agreement to ensure uranium was used for peaceful purposes.
Gillard and her Labour Party have been the prime mover behind the ongoing India-Australia nuclear rapprochement despite opposition from nuclear non-proliferation hawks back home to build a robust strategic partnership with India. In December last year, the Labour Party reversed an earlier policy of not selling uranium to countries which have not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty [NPT].
Gillard, who is currently on a three-day visit to India -- her first trip to the country as the prime minister, will hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday.
Before beginning the talks, a ceremonial reception will be held in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan for the visiting Australian leader.
Issues relating to civil nuclear deal are set to figure prominently in the discussions. The two leaders are expected to announce the start of civil nuclear negotiations, paving the way for the sealing of the nuclear deal which could remove the last festering issue in the bilateral relationship.
Ahead of the talks, Gillard struck a realistic note on the prospects of the nuclear deal. A report published in Australian daily The Sydney Morning Herald, quoted her saying that uranium sales to India will not start quickly.
Gillard said negotiating the agreement is 'likely to take one or two years, rather than months', the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
According to the report, Gillard said Australia knew how to negotiate a proper agreement to ensure uranium was used for peaceful purposes.
Gillard and her Labour Party have been the prime mover behind the ongoing India-Australia nuclear rapprochement despite opposition from nuclear non-proliferation hawks back home to build a robust strategic partnership with India. In December last year, the Labour Party reversed an earlier policy of not selling uranium to countries which have not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty [NPT].