The two countries are expected to announce negotiations¹ on civil nuclear co-operation during Ms Gillard's visit. 

 

Last December Ms Gillard's ruling Labor² party overturned its long-standing ban on exporting uranium to India.

 

Australia, which holds an estimated 40% of the world's uranium, already exports it to China, Japan, Taiwan and the US.

 

The country has excluded sales to India because it is not a signatory（签约国） to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

 

Ms Gillard is expected to hold meetings with Indian PM Manmohan Singh and senior government ministers in Delhi.

 

She is also expected to meet Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi.

 

The Australian prime minister's visit is aimed at boosting economic ties between the two countries - bilateral³（双边的） trade is worth $20bn and is growing at the rate of 20% every year.

 

Ms Gillard stopped briefly⁴ in the Afghan capital, Kabul, on her way to Delhi, to meet Australian troops and hold talks with President Hamid Karzai.

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