We will visit India in coming days as members of the Australian delegation to the inaugural Australia-India Leadership Dialogue.
The Australia-India Leadership Dialogue aims to strengthen the bilateral relationship between Australia and India and includes representatives from business, government and non-government organisations.
Australia and India have many shared interests in the Indo-Pacific, and strong and enduring people-to-people links.
More than 400,000 people of Indian heritage call Australia home.
India is Australias twelfth largest trading partner and fifth largest export market, with Australias goods exports to India totalling $9.5 billion in 2013.
India is now the fastest growing major economy in the word.
Labor has recognised the importance of Australias relationship with India since Ben Chifley led our party and the nation.
In 2009 the former Labor Government strengthened Australias relationship with India by entering into a new Strategic Partnership.
Together with delegation members Senator Lisa Singh and Gai Brodtmann MP we look forward to renewing and strengthening the ties between our two nations.