US President George W Bush and Australian Prime Minister John
Howard cemented a strong alliance as Asia-Pacific ministers began
talks ranging from human security and climate change to trade and
economic reform.
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.
The treaty was signed at Howard's Sydney office as anti-war
activists went to court to challenge police restrictions on mass
weekend protests which are expected to draw up to 20,000 people
onto the streets against Bush's visit and the Iraq war.
"I have absolutely no doubt that minority groups will engage in a
level of violence not previously experienced in Sydney," police
chief superintendent Steve Cullen said.
At an anti-Bush rally at Sydney Railway Station, media outnumbered
the noisy but peaceful protesters.
Hu at sheep farm
Trade liberalisation and climate change top the agenda at the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum 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.
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.
Ice sculptures of Bush's and Howard's face were placed by
protesters near Sydney's famous Harbour Bridge to slowly melt in
the sun, symbolising the refusal of the United States and Australia
to sign the Kyoto climate pact.
Bush and Howard boarded a luxury cruiser before lunch with armed
helicopters hovering overhead and flanked by police on jet skis and
in inflatables boats.
"You've been telling me how beautiful Sydney is. I now agree," Bush
told Howard.
About 40 trade and foreign ministers, including US Secretary of
State Condaleeza Rice, gathered at Sydney's main convention centre
on Darling Harbour to hammer out a declaration for their leaders to
consider at a weekend summit.
Food safety
A draft of that declaration says the 21 APEC members will try to
develop a more robust approach to strengthening food and product
safety standards in the region.
The declaration notes that security is essential to economic growth
and, in cooperating on that front, APEC members will "remain
closely attuned to the needs of business".
APEC has begun work on a recovery programme to revive trade in the
event of a terrorist attack and a set of principles "to help
protect the food supply against deliberate contamination".
On trade, APEC will be focusing this year on "behind the border
issues", including structural reform, competition policy,
strengthening capital markets, combating corruption, promoting good
governance, and a more certain legal and regulatory climate.
The draft declaration, however, gives short shrift to a US-backed
Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific.
Police expect weekend protests to turn violent and more than 5,000
police and soldiers have been deployed in central Sydney to guard
APEC leaders inside a 5km-long steel-and-concrete wall.
Fighter jets patrolled low over the city.