Lighten up Belly.
Sure not everyone pays attention to me...its doesnt matter.
Things get read and remembered.

Heres a joke to brighten youre day Belly...

Q: how many ears does Davey Crockett have?

Can't get it?

A. he's got a left ear and a right ear and a wild frontier!

he,he,he...did you get it young chap?

You don't need to worry about me Belly, I worry about myself at times. :-)
But, seriously, I am concerned about Rudd's China-centric focus and so are others far more knowledgeable than myself. I am not too concerned that India has not signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty because treaties are treaties and, all too often, they get ignored. China does not recognise most international law or conventions and treaties. China, like most other countries, would ignore any treaty if it was in their interest to do so. That's not being cynical, merely realistic.
Indian and Asian culture is such that we cannot afford to be seen to favour China over India or vice versa. We need to acknowledge Japan's place in the world too.
We should be able to do legitimate business with anyone but I suggest that China has already placed, and is continuing to place, terms and conditions on how we do trade and with whom we do it. That's not intended as a conspiracy theory just economic reality. The US does the same - but we are much more likely to hear about that

I say we grow ourselves so that world policy is at least built with Australia playing a major part. Lowering our reliance on these big nations should be at least high on the priority list.

Communicat,
=Despite that Kevin Rudd seems determined to ignore India= What is this?
Where did you find Rudd's determinion to ignore India? I do not think Kevin's government ignore India
Personally, I think we must have good relations with all countries especially with big countries as India and China and of course with countries where we export or could export our products as India and China. Of cause we know that China is in better, stronger position than India.
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

I would suggest that unilaterally cancelling the four way talks between Australia, the US, Japan and India (note the last country mentioned) was a very strong indication of Rudd's attitude towards India. It's not important to him. He cannot afford to strengthen ties with India because it would need to be done at the expense of ties with China. It suits Rudd personally because of his very personal relationship with all things Chinese.
But there are other issues. Australia has not perceived India as a major trading partner, or even a major regional power, for many years. Whitlam was the first to move away from India and the ties have gradually been weakend over the years. This has been a major tactical mistake on our part because India is a major regional power with strong ties to other countries we also need to work with if we are to have balanced trading options.
Australia has allowed itself to be bullied into submission first by Japan and then by China. They, naturally, want our resources at the lowest possible prices.
We have to recognise, despite political protestations to the contrary, that we are not "part of the Asian region" and we never will be. We are adjacent to it. We need to be good neighbours but we have to acknowledge that we are not going to be invited to live in the houses of our neighbours.

Communicat
You wrote that "I am not too concerned that India has not signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty"
Australia signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and must respect it.
"TREATY ON THE NON-PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS
Article III
2. Each State Party to the Treaty undertakes not to provide: (a) source or special fissionable material, or (b) equipment or material especially designed or prepared for the processing, use or production of special fissionable material, to any non-nuclear-weapon State for peaceful purposes, unless the source or special fissionable material shall be subject to the safeguards required by this article"

WE DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT AND IT IS NOT RESPONSIBLE TO EXPORT URANIUM TO INDIA WHICH HAS NOT SIGNED THE NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY.
Our duty is to promote Peace, security and cooperation between the nations. If every country ignores or violates the international law then we will convert our planet to α jungle and put at high risk the future of our planet.
I Feel happy that the party ALP I voted respect the international law and canceled Howard's agreement for uranium export to India.
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide