New Delhi - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Thursday said his government was committed to taking all possible measures to ensure the safety of international students, seeking to allay New Delhi's concerns over recent attacks on Indian students in the country.

"The Australian government is committed to do all that is physically possible to ensure that all international students in Australia have a safe and rewarding experience," Rudd told a meeting hosted by Indian business chambers in New Delhi.

"We have an obligation to extend the hand of friendship and support to all Indian students," Rudd said, adding that they were "welcome guests" in his country.

Rudd arrived in Mumbai Wednesday and was scheduled to meet his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh on Thursday evening.

His comments came a day after India underlined the need for Canberra to take "effective steps" to prevent such attacks.

India's External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash Wednesday said Delhi attached the "highest importance" to the safety and security of its students.

More than 30 Indian students have been attacked in Australian cities over the past five months, Indian media reports say.

Several Australian ministers have visited India in recent months as the issue threatens both the billion-dollar education industry and bilateral ties. An estimated 90,000 Indians study in Australia.

But reports said another attack on a 22-year-old Indian student in Melbourne over the weekend by a group of Australians had put the spotlight back on the issue.

"We have conveyed our concerns at the highest level. Unfortunately, the attacks have recurred in the last week or so," Prakash said. "It's important that the means are effective to ensure the security and safety of Indian students."

Besides the attacks on students, Singh and Rudd are due to discuss the possibility of a free-trade agreement, boosting investment as well as global issues such as the economic crisis, counter-terrorism, maritime security cooperation and climate change.

Earlier on Thursday, Rudd said Australia would make an investment of around 70 million dollars in India for green technology to combat the challenges both countries face in the energy, water, health and environment fields due to climate change.

"Collaboration and partnership is what is needed if the nations of the world are to bring about real results on sustainable development and more broadly on climate change," he was quoted as saying by the PTI news agency.

He was speaking at a function in Delhi along with RK Pachauri, chairman of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

This is Rudd's first visit to India as prime minister.

He is also scheduled to meet Indian leaders including ruling United Progressive Alliance chairwoman Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Hamid Ansari.

From India, Rudd is due to fly to Singapore early Friday to attend the annual summit of leaders from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member economies. (dpa)