Sydney, Aug 21 - Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard will visit India later this month to take its relationship with New Delhi to 'a higher level'.

Gillard will leave for a five-day trip Aug 30, paving the way for a visit by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd later in the year, his first to India since coming to power in 2007, The Age reported Friday.

The Rudd government flagged India as an important element of its foreign policy agenda but two previous attempts by him to visit had to be aborted.

Gillard said her visit would strengthen ties with a vitally-important economic partner.

'The government is committed to taking its relationship with India to a higher level and engaging with India on a long-term, strategic basis,' she was quoted as saying.

Her visit will take her to New Delhi and Chennai.