Australian PM to discuss climate change, trade, Iraq at APEC meeting

Australian Prime Minister John Howard on Thursday said he will talk about climate change, energy security, trade and Iraq with leaders at the forthcoming Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Howard is expected to leave Thursday afternoon for Hanoi where he will hold a series of bilateral meetings Friday, including a luncheon with U.S. President George W Bush.

Howard described the APEC meeting as a "great opportunity" to talk about regional cooperation on tackling climate change.

"I will discuss with all of the people with whom I have bilateral meetings, starting with President Bush and President Hu Jintao of China, climate change and energy security issues. The two are linked," he told reporters in Sydney, Australia's largest city.

Meanwhile, he will also discuss the situation in Iraq with Bush.

"It's also an opportunity to renew our commitment as a group of countries to the trade liberalization goals of APEC, and importantly also in my discussions with President Bush I will naturally canvas bilateral relations on the situation in Iraq," he said.

Australia, a staunch supporter of the U.S.-led war on terror, currently maintains around 1,400 troops in and around Iraq.

Howard has said there will not a major change in Iraq policy after the Republicans lost in the mid-term elections in the United States earlier this month.

Source: Xinhua