International congratulations for Rudd
Sunday, 25 November, 2007
Congratulations from around the world have flooded in for new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has flagged the signing of the Kyoto protocol as an important talking point between the two countries, and New Zealand’s Prime Minister Helen Clark has indicated her willingness to work with Mr Rudd.
Even American President George W Bush, who is close friend and ally of out-going Prime Minister John Howard, has congratulated Mr Rudd on his victory.
Brown ready to talk climate change
Mr Brown telephoned Mr Rudd from the Ugandan capital of Kampala, where he is attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), shortly after outgoing prime minister John Howard conceded defeat on Saturday night.
"I have talked to Kevin Rudd ... and congratulated him on his election and talked to him about some of the issues, including climate change, that we are discussing here today," Mr Brown told reporters.
"Kevin Rudd has told me he will immediately sign the Kyoto agreement and he is proposing these binding agreements in the post-Kyoto talks that start in Bali in a few days' time."
Mr Brown, who heads Britain's Labour Party, also discussed a range of other global issues with Mr Rudd including Iraq, Afghanistan and global security.
He added that Mr Brown had enjoyed working with Mr Howard and he appreciated the close cooperation between the UK and Australia on a number of essential bilateral issues.
Close relationship: Clark
Meanwhile, Ms Clark says Australia and New Zealand have always worked closely together.
"I anticipate that our close and familiar relationship will continue to flourish under Mr Rudd and his new Labor government," Clark said.
"Our many areas of co-operation with Australia include developing a single economic market, climate change, strengthening institutions in the South Pacific, improving international trade rules, and making the world a safer place through peacekeeping and promoting inter-faith dialogue," she said.
She also paid tribute to outgoing prime minister John Howard.
"Mr Howard has been a good friend to New Zealand, and his legacy includes a substantial deepening in the trans-Tasman relationship," Clark said.
Bush offers support
Despite experts in US-Australian affairs predicting some chilliness between the White House and Mr Rudd, but just hours after the ALP won its landslide federal election victory Mr Bush and Mr Rudd hosed down any perceived hostilities.
Mr Bush rang Mr Rudd to congratulate him soon after the poll results were evident.
And for his part, Mr Rudd signalled the close relationship between Australian and the United States would continue under his leadership.
Source: AAP