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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Australia to be 'climate bridge' | Australia to be 'climate bridge' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Australia's new PM has told China he will act as a bridge between Beijing and the developed world in negotiations on cutting greenhouse gas emissions. | Australia's new PM has told China he will act as a bridge between Beijing and the developed world in negotiations on cutting greenhouse gas emissions. |
| Kevin Rudd made the offer in a phone conversation with Premier Wen Jiabao. | |
| China is under intense pressure from the West to agree to binding targets on carbon emissions at talks in Bali. | China is under intense pressure from the West to agree to binding targets on carbon emissions at talks in Bali. |
| Mr Rudd signalled a shift in Canberra's environment policy by signing documents to ratify the Kyoto Protocol hours after taking office. | |
| Diplomatic focus | Diplomatic focus |
| Mr Rudd has said he wants to put Australia at the forefront of the worldwide fight against global warming. | Mr Rudd has said he wants to put Australia at the forefront of the worldwide fight against global warming. |
| Earlier this week he started the process by which Australia will ratify the Kyoto Protocol on climate change - something which his predecessor, John Howard, repeatedly refused to do. | Earlier this week he started the process by which Australia will ratify the Kyoto Protocol on climate change - something which his predecessor, John Howard, repeatedly refused to do. |
| The BBC's Nick Bryant in Sydney says it appears that the 20-minute phone call between the two leaders - conducted entirely in Mandarin - was initiated by China. | The BBC's Nick Bryant in Sydney says it appears that the 20-minute phone call between the two leaders - conducted entirely in Mandarin - was initiated by China. |
| But he added that it was also a telling indication of where Australia's new diplomatic priorities might lie. | But he added that it was also a telling indication of where Australia's new diplomatic priorities might lie. |
| Following his election, the former diplomat spoke by phone to the leaders of Australia's traditional allies - George W Bush in Washington and Gordon Brown in London. | Following his election, the former diplomat spoke by phone to the leaders of Australia's traditional allies - George W Bush in Washington and Gordon Brown in London. |
| But the Chinese premier is the first foreign leader Mr Rudd has conducted discussions with since being sworn in as prime minister. | But the Chinese premier is the first foreign leader Mr Rudd has conducted discussions with since being sworn in as prime minister. |
| Mr Wen seems keen to take up Mr Rudd's offer and enlist him as an intermediary, our correspondent says. | Mr Wen seems keen to take up Mr Rudd's offer and enlist him as an intermediary, our correspondent says. |