Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a landmark nuclear deal with Australia on Friday ahead of key talks with US President George W Bush to tackle rising tensions between the superpowers.
SYDNEY: Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a landmark nuclear deal with Australia on Friday ahead of key talks with US President George W Bush to tackle rising tensions between the superpowers.
Putin signed the agreement to import Australian uranium for Russia's nuclear energy programme after talks with Prime Minister John Howard, who quickly moved to allay fears that the sales would pose a potential nuclear risk.
"Any uranium that is sold to Russia will be sold under very strict safeguards," Howard said at a joint press conference with Putin in Sydney, where both are attend this weekend's Asia-Pacific summit.
"This new agreement will allow the supply of Australian uranium for use in Russia's civil nuclear power industry and provide a framework for broader cooperation on peaceful nuclear-related activities," he said.
Both Howard and Putin dismissed concerns that Russia would sell Australian uranium to third countries such as Iran.
"I simply don't understand what people are talking about," Putin said, pointing out that Russia already exports large quantities of enriched uranium for military use, including 30 tonnes a year to the United States.
"We are buying uranium from Australia for purely economic reasons," he said.
Australia, which has the world's largest known deposits of uranium, in January ratified an agreement with China for the export of yellowcake for Beijing's growing nuclear energy programme.
The focus of Putin's visit was due to shift later in the day to his meeting with Bush.
The two sides have clashed repeatedly in recent months, most sharply over a US plan to deploy elements of a missile defence shield in Poland and the Czech Republic.
The plan has infuriated Moscow, which has accused Washington of seeking to upset the nuclear balance of power.
Washington insists the shield is aimed at protecting against potential attacks from Iran or North Korea and would pose no threat to Russia.
Points of contention also remain on Russia's decade-long bid to join the 151-member World Trade Organisation.
The United States agreed in principle in 2006 to support Moscow, though tough negotiations continue over issues such as intellectual property rights and health standards for agricultural imports into Russia.
In an opinion piece carried by major Australian newspapers on Friday, Putin played up the relevance of the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum this weekend.
"Because of the rapid development of the Asia-Pacific region, APEC can be called the most promising economic association on the planet," he wrote.
"The member states account for 57 percent of the world's gross domestic product, 48 percent of world trade and more than 40 percent of direct foreign investment."
Apart from trade and economic issues, APEC was also important in countering threats and challenges to development including "neutralising terrorism," he said.
Putin arrived fresh from a visit to the world's most populous Muslim nation, Indonesia, where he inked a billion-dollar arms deal.
Under the agreement, Russia is providing a line of credit for Jakarta to buy its helicopters, tanks and submarines.
Putin's trip to the region is breaking new ground. His visit to Indonesia was the first by a Russian or Soviet leader in nearly five decades while for Australia it is the first ever.
Putin, Bush and Howard will join 18 other world leaders at the summit, including China's Hu Jintao.
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