Stephen Smith

Australian minister hits out at tough new China visa restrictions

Sahil Nagpal 6 May 2008

Australia's Foreign Minister Stephen Smith Tuesday called for clarification from Beijing on tough new visa restrictions imposed on Westerners in the run-up to the Olympics.

Speaking in Hong Kong, where thousands of expatriate business people who deal with companies in southern China have been affected, Smith called on China to explain the crackdown.

Without warning, China at the beginning of April suddenly stopped issuing multiple-entry visas to people travelling from Hong Kong, giving out only single and double entry visas instead.

Applicants have been asked to provide proof of hotel bookings and return tickets before visas are issued, and China has stopped issuing visas on the border as it did in some cases previously.

Oz FM says Mugabe is 'clearly stealing Zimbabwe election'

Mohit Joshi 22 April 2008

Melbourne, Apr. 22: Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has accused Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe of trying to steal the recent elections in his country to remain in power.

Australia rules out sending extra troops to Afghanistan

Sahil Nagpal 10 February 2008

Sydney, Feb.

Oz Foreign Minister says uranium sales policy won’t affect ties with India

People: 
Stephen Smith
Regions: 
Australia
Melbourne

Melbourne, Jan 20: Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has expressed his confidence that the Kevin Rudd Government’s policy on uranium sales won't harm efforts of his government to boost relationship with India.

“Australia's relationship with India and further progress in that relationship does not depend on uranium sales,” said Smith, adding, “India is aware of the government's policy to supply uranium only to countries which are members of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.”

On January 15, Smith had made it clear that his government will not sell uranium to India, as it is not a member of the global non-proliferation treaty (NPT).

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