The focus of Australia's foreign policy is increasingly getting oriented towards South Asian countries including India, the country's high commissioner said on Monday.

"Our primary focus of foreign policy is increasingly moving towards the South Asian nations," Australian High Commissioner to India John McCarthy said.

"Both India and Australia enjoy a common language and strong constitutional backgrounds, but there is need for greater cultural exchanges," he said at a seminar on 'Cultural Diversity, Governance and Policy: India-Australia' in New Delhi.

Australia is also concentrating on it's relationship with the East Asian countries, he said.

"Our priorities towards East Asia is proved by the fact that, eight of Australia's 10 biggest high commissions are in that region," he said.

Acknowledging the various research programmes being carried out jointly by Indian and Australian scholars, Bruce Bennett, a member of the Australia-India Council Board said, "Programmes are being conducted by Indians and Australians jointly in AIDS reaseach, biotechnology and heritage issues."

Australian author Thomas Keneally appreciated the contribution of the Asian community in his country annd said, "We are proud of the immigration that took place in our country after World War II."

The two-day seminar, jointly organised by the Indira Gandhi Open University and the Australia-India Council was earlier inaugurated by Rajya Sabha member and ICCR president Karan Singh.