Smith visits Dhyan Chand stadium

New Delhi:

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith on Tuesday visited the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, venue of the ongoing World Cup, and hoped that hockey will help in forming Australia's strategic partnership with India.

Smith, who is here to discuss the bilateral relationship between India and Australia including safety, security and well-being of the Indians Down Under, today inspected the security arrangement at the stadium for the Commonwealth Games.

"This game (hockey) and other sports will help in forming a strategic partnership between the two countries," Smith told reporters here.

The Australian, who refused to take questions, said he was looking forward to a good sporting relations between the two nations.

"Indian and australia are great sporting countries and they have a rich tradition of hockey. So I am looking forward to a good future in sports relations between the two countries and the first match between the two countries for the Ajit Pal-Charlesworth trophy will be the beginning," he said.