FED: Howard derides Keating's failure with China

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2007
FED: Howard derides Keating's failure with China

SYDNEY, Aug 23 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard has scoffed at Paul Keating's inability
to fully engage with China during his time as Australia's leader.

The former prime minister and architect of APEC has called for the group to be revamped
into a strategic body, rather than an economic one, to accommodate the rise of China as
a major new power.

Mr Keating has told Fairfax newspapers the APEC summit is well suited to easing China
into the world as it brings together leaders of half the world's economy and population,
including US President George Bush.

But Mr Howard told reporters in western Sydney today that Mr Keating had not had even
a fraction of the success of the present government in engaging with China.

"I can remember Mr Keating telling me what a great thing APEC was," he said.

"I would have thought including China in the world community has been one of the great
foreign policy successes of my government.

"I seem to remember Mr Keating and his mob saying the Chinese wouldn't talk to us.

"One of the features of my prime ministership has been the close relationship with
the US and at the same time the very close relationship with China," he said.

Mr Keating will be making a speech on APEC in Sydney tonight.

This year's APEC leaders' week runs from September 2 to 9 in Sydney.

AAP ig/bd/sk/wjf/jt/de

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