Bush, Howard Cement Ties as APEC Meet Begins
President Bush stands in line as he waits to be served at a buffet lunch with Australian troops during his visit to Garden Island naval base before the APEC summit in Sydney on Wednesday.5 September 2007
Sydney: US President George W. Bush and Australian Prime Minister John Howard cemented a strong alliance on Wednesday as Asia-Pacific ministers began talks ranging from human security and climate change to trade and economic reform at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum summit.
Howard promised Australian soldiers would stay alongside US troops in Iraq following a meeting between the close friends, a short cruise, and lunch beside the picture-postcard Sydney Harbour with Australian soldiers and sailors.
"Our commitment to Iraq remains. This is not the time for any proposals of a scaling down of Australian forces," Howard told reporters, pointing to next week's crucial progress report to the US Congress on the American troop surge in Iraq.
"It's historic work, Mr. Prime Minister, and it's important work and I appreciate the contribution that the Australians have made," Bush replied to the veteran Australian leader, whose support for the war in Iraq is clouding his re-election hopes.
Bush and Howard signed a treaty giving Canberra improved access to secret US military technology and intelligence, surveillance and joint training. Under the deal, US equipment would also be based in Australia in case of regional disasters.
Trade liberalisation and climate change top the agenda at the APEC summit, and Bush wants the group's 21 economies to agree to a strongly worded pledge to reinvigorate the Doha round of world trade talks.
Bush and Howard discussed trade, the Middle East, North Korea and the rise of China, whose President Hu Jintao is also in Australia and was expected in Sydney for APEC later on Wednesday.
Hu visited a farm near the Australian capital, Canberra, to watch a sheep being shorn. China is Australia's biggest wool export destination and resource market, and -- in contrast to Bush -- Hu has received a warm public reception in Australia.
Sydney: US President George W. Bush and Australian Prime Minister John Howard cemented a strong alliance on Wednesday as Asia-Pacific ministers began talks ranging from human security and climate change to trade and economic reform at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum summit.
Howard promised Australian soldiers would stay alongside US troops in Iraq following a meeting between the close friends, a short cruise, and lunch beside the picture-postcard Sydney Harbour with Australian soldiers and sailors.
"Our commitment to Iraq remains. This is not the time for any proposals of a scaling down of Australian forces," Howard told reporters, pointing to next week's crucial progress report to the US Congress on the American troop surge in Iraq.
"It's historic work, Mr. Prime Minister, and it's important work and I appreciate the contribution that the Australians have made," Bush replied to the veteran Australian leader, whose support for the war in Iraq is clouding his re-election hopes.
Bush and Howard signed a treaty giving Canberra improved access to secret US military technology and intelligence, surveillance and joint training. Under the deal, US equipment would also be based in Australia in case of regional disasters.
Trade liberalisation and climate change top the agenda at the APEC summit, and Bush wants the group's 21 economies to agree to a strongly worded pledge to reinvigorate the Doha round of world trade talks.
Bush and Howard discussed trade, the Middle East, North Korea and the rise of China, whose President Hu Jintao is also in Australia and was expected in Sydney for APEC later on Wednesday.
Hu visited a farm near the Australian capital, Canberra, to watch a sheep being shorn. China is Australia's biggest wool export destination and resource market, and -- in contrast to Bush -- Hu has received a warm public reception in Australia.
Labels: Australia, Bush, China, Iraq, Iraqi Holocaust, Middle East, North Korea, United States
posted by HRM Deborah of Israel and the Messenger of Peace at 9:39 AM
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