Australia's Foreign Minister said on Friday that his country is considering raising its aid to Yemen to help the country improve the performance of its coastguard to do more to secure waterways, governmental sources reported.

The announcement was made when Kevin Rudd met with his Yemeni counterpart Al-Qirbi in Bahrain's capital Manama.

At the meeting held on the margins of the 7th Annual Regional Security Summit, Manama Dialog, Rudd also said his country plans to study increasing its developmental aid to Yemen, especially in the agricultural and water resources fields.

Also, because of its strategic location near waterways, Yemen can learn from Australia's expertise in various fields, mainly in the previously mentioned sectors, he told Al-Qirbi, adding that Australia is ready to provide further technical assistance to Yemen.

For his part, Al-Qirbi reviewed outcomes of the meetings of Friends of Yemen Group including the last one held in September in New York.

Yemen is keen to develop its relations with Australia in the best interest of the peoples in both countries, he said.

Furthermore, the two ministers discussed the bilateral relationship and ways to boost cooperation in all areas as well as the latest developments at regional and international levels.