Foreign Minister Dr Surujrattan Rambachan has met in St Kitts with his Australian counterpart Kevin Rudd at the 14th assembly of the Council of Foreign and Community Relations.
Rudd, who is a former Australian prime minister, addressed the assembly and reiterated Australia's pledge to work closer with the Caricom countries and the wider Caribbean.
He announced that Australia is now close to fully programming US$60 million in development aid to the Caribbean.
Rudd also said under the Australia/Caribbean Awards program Australia will be providing 110 scholarships over four years to help train students from the region. Twenty one recipients got scholarships in February 2011.
"Austalia is listening, and Australia is a country that does what it says," Rudd said, adding that his country has expanded its diplomatic footprint in the region with the opening of four honorary consuls to support the Australian High Commissioner in delivering on the country's commitments.
Australia's key areas for cooperation are climate change and disaster risk reduction; meeting regional challenges; education and skills development including diplomatic and trade training scholarships, and regional security including cooperation in efforts to curb illicit trafficking in conventional arms.
Rudd, who is a former Australian prime minister, addressed the assembly and reiterated Australia's pledge to work closer with the Caricom countries and the wider Caribbean.
Rudd also said under the Australia/Caribbean Awards program Australia will be providing 110 scholarships over four years to help train students from the region. Twenty one recipients got scholarships in February 2011.
"Austalia is listening, and Australia is a country that does what it says," Rudd said, adding that his country has expanded its diplomatic footprint in the region with the opening of four honorary consuls to support the Australian High Commissioner in delivering on the country's commitments.
Australia's key areas for cooperation are climate change and disaster risk reduction; meeting regional challenges; education and skills development including diplomatic and trade training scholarships, and regional security including cooperation in efforts to curb illicit trafficking in conventional arms.
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