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| China, Australia discuss security | China, Australia discuss security |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Australia and China will hold annual security summits, their leaders have announced after talks in Sydney. | |
| Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Chinese President Hu Jintao also signed deals in a number of areas, including energy and extradition. | Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Chinese President Hu Jintao also signed deals in a number of areas, including energy and extradition. |
| The two men were meeting ahead of a weekend summit of Asia-Pacific leaders. | The two men were meeting ahead of a weekend summit of Asia-Pacific leaders. |
| Later Mr Hu is due to hold talks with US President George W Bush, who is also in Sydney for the summit. | |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin is due to arrive in Sydney later in the week. He is currently in Indonesia where finalising a $1bn (£500m) arms deal. | |
| Security ties | Security ties |
| While the official leaders' meetings are not due to take place until the weekend, several bilateral discussions have already taken place on the sidelines of the 21-nation Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) forum. | |
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| During their meeting on Thursday, Mr Hu and Mr Howard agreed to hold annual security summits, which Mr Hu said would "increase our dialogue and co-operation on major regional and international issues concerning peace and development". | |
| class="bodl" href="#map">Map of key locations In recent months, Australia, Japan and the US have been strengthening security co-operation, in a move that has worried China. | |
| But Mr Howard said there was no hidden agenda. | |
| Hu in product safety vow In pictures: Apec leaders Apec seeks to silence critics | |
| "The trilateral dialogue between Australia, Japan and the US is not directed at anyone, any more than the strategic dialogue I have just announced between Australia and China is not directed at anyone," he said. | "The trilateral dialogue between Australia, Japan and the US is not directed at anyone, any more than the strategic dialogue I have just announced between Australia and China is not directed at anyone," he said. |
| The two sides signed a number of deals aimed at improving ties, including one to send two giant pandas to Adelaide Zoo. | The two sides signed a number of deals aimed at improving ties, including one to send two giant pandas to Adelaide Zoo. |
| Talks with Bush | Talks with Bush |
| Later on Thursday, Mr Hu is due to hold talks with Mr Bush, who has told journalists he wants to have "a good honest, candid discussion" with his Chinese counterpart. | |
| Issues such as product safety, climate change and security are expected to be on the agenda. | Issues such as product safety, climate change and security are expected to be on the agenda. |
| Mr Hu addressed the issue of the safety of Chinese-made products at his news conference with Mr Howard. | Mr Hu addressed the issue of the safety of Chinese-made products at his news conference with Mr Howard. |
| China took product safety "very seriously" and was willing to work with the international community to step up quality inspections and examinations, he said. | China took product safety "very seriously" and was willing to work with the international community to step up quality inspections and examinations, he said. |
| Mr Bush, meanwhile, began his day by meeting Australian opposition leader Kevin Rudd. | Mr Bush, meanwhile, began his day by meeting Australian opposition leader Kevin Rudd. |
| Mr Rudd is far ahead of Mr Howard in opinion polls with a general election due later this year. He wants to withdraw Australian troops from Iraq, in contrast to Mr Howard, who has been a staunch supporter of US policy on Iraq. | Mr Rudd is far ahead of Mr Howard in opinion polls with a general election due later this year. He wants to withdraw Australian troops from Iraq, in contrast to Mr Howard, who has been a staunch supporter of US policy on Iraq. |
| Mr Rudd described the meeting as "a wide-ranging, good-natured, very open discussion", while a White House spokesman said that the two had had "a good session". | Mr Rudd described the meeting as "a wide-ranging, good-natured, very open discussion", while a White House spokesman said that the two had had "a good session". |
| Security is extremely tight in Sydney, with a number of protests expected on Thursday. Larger demonstrations are expected at the weekend. | Security is extremely tight in Sydney, with a number of protests expected on Thursday. Larger demonstrations are expected at the weekend. |
| A 5km (three mile) barrier has been erected across the city's central business district and more than 5,000 police and troops are patrolling the streets. | |
| Return to story | Return to story |