Washington: New Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and US President George W Bush are showing signs of a burgeoning diplomatic friendship: Rudd calls the president "George"; Bush describes Rudd to reporters as a "fine lad" and a "straight forward fella".

The two leaders, who met yesterday at the White House, also are going to lengths to play down the signs that Rudd has distanced his government from some of the pro-US policies of his immediate predecessor, John Howard.

Bush said he understood Rudd s decision to withdraw Australia's combat troops from Iraq. He praised Rudd's commitment to the fight in Afghanistan. US-Australian "friendship will strengthen and endure under the leadership of Kevin Rudd," Bush said. "I don't see differences when it comes to foreign policy."

The leaders also tried to strike a delicate balance on China, voicing displeasure with Beijing's crackdown on Tibetan protesters without alienating a crucial economic and political partner. They urged China's leaders to meet with the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader.

"It is absolutely clear that there are human rights abuses in Tibet," Rudd, a Chinese-speaking former diplomat in Beijing, said. "It's clear-cut; we need to be upfront and absolutely straight about what's going on."

Bush said he told Chinese President Hu Jintao this week that "it's in his country's interest" that top Chinese leaders meet with representatives of the Dalai Lama.

Rudd, a China expert who wants stronger economic ties with Beijing, said leaders should not "shilly-shally" in their assessment of abuse in Tibet and surrounding regions. He said he would raise the matter during his visit to China next month, adding, "we recognise China's sovereignty over Tibet."
Source : PTI