Australian PM begins India trip from Mumbai

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott started his India visit from Mumbai where he arrived early Thursday, heading a 30-strong business delegation.

His day, full of engagements, started by paying homage to the 26/11 terror attack victims at Hotel Taj Mahal Palace where he is staying in south Mumbai.

Later, Abbott called on Maharashtra Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao at the Raj Bhavan.

He is slated to speak to students at University of Mumbai.

Abott is scheduled to have lunch with a large group of top industrialists at the Hotel Taj and later meet a select group of CEOs including Cyrus Mistry of Tata Group and Adani Group's Gautam Adani.

The late afternoon was scheduled for a sporting event organised by the Australian consulate here - attending a felicitation of young Indian cricketers by Australians legends like Adam Gilchrist and Brett Lee, in the presence of Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, at the Cricket Club of India.

Arriving here on his first visit to India as prime minister, the high point of Abbott's trip is the possibility of signing a nuclear cooperation agreement with the Indian government.

He is scheduled to hold delegation-level meetings and discuss various issues with President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi Friday.