Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd tcongratulated newly elected US president Barack Obama personally over the telephone on Friday.
MELBOURNE: Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd congratulated newly elected US president Barack Obama personally over the telephone on Friday.
Rudd said he had a 10 to 15-minute conversation with US president-elect Obama.
"It was a good conversation, it was a friendly conversation," Rudd was quoted in a media report here.
Rudd said their conversation ranged over the global challenges of climate change, security and the financial crisis.
"The challenges we face are great, they are global challenges, they are regional challenges, but I believe we have a strong partner in the US," Rudd said.
He told the president-elect he would always be welcome in Australia.
"This really was more of a congratulatory call," he said.
Australian Prime Minister Rudd further said he and Obama discussed about strong relationships in the past and the fact that the two sides intended to make it even stronger in the future.
Meanwhile, Rudd also announced Australia had no plans to increase the number of troops stationed in Afghanistan.
Responding to a media report that according to Obama's campaign adviser on Asia policy, the first priority of the new US administration's dealings with Australia would be to seek help in winning the war in Afghanistan, Rudd said Australia's troop contribution in Afghanistan where more than 1000 defense personnel are currently serving would not be bolstered in the near future, according to Sydney Morning Herald report.
"Of the non-NATO countries contributing to Afghanistan at the moment Australia has the largest contingent, that is a fact," he said adding "We've got no plans to increase that (contribution) in the future but of course we look forward to discussing that in the future."
Rudd said the matter did not come up directly in this morning's conversation, saying that Obama had only been voted in two days ago and that it would be two months before he assumed office.
Rudd said he did not take the opportunity to invite Obama to Australia in the conversation, but said, "Barack Obama was always welcome in Australia."
"I'm convinced we're going to have a first-class working relationship. His message of hope for America is equally a message of hope for the entire world.
"The challenges we face are common. When it comes to climate change, the financial crisis and security, we must work together."
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