Rudd to meet Obama next month

The worsening global financial crisis and Afghanistan will dominate talks when Prime
Minister Kevin Rudd meets US President Barack Obama in Washington next month.
It will be Mr Rudd's first meeting with Mr Obama since the president was sworn in
more than a month ago.
Mr Rudd said on Friday he will meet the president on March 24 to discuss the
coordinated international response to the global economic crisis as well as a range
of other issues including climate change.
The meeting gives them the chance to discuss reform of the global financial system,
which is the main item on the agenda for the summit of G20 nations - the world's
largest economies - set to take place in London on April 2.
It is expected Mr Rudd will attend both meetings in the one trip but the government
is yet to announce any other scheduled visits or meetings.
Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull welcomed the news of the trip but said he hoped
Mr Rudd would learn from Mr Obama and stop talking down the economy.
"President Obama's message is always one of optimism and hope," Mr Turnbull said.
"He demonstrates the power of positive thinking in a very persuasive way.
"(Mr Rudd has) got a lot to learn from President Obama and I hope he takes plenty of
notes."
The prime minister attended the G20 summit in Washington last December where leaders
resolved to focus on reform of the banking and financial systems in London.
Mr Rudd said the talks with Mr Obama would also look at closer cooperation between
Australia and the US on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, and the future
shape of the Asia-Pacific region.
"Our alliance with the US is the bedrock of our foreign and security policy," Mr
Rudd said.
"A strong relationship with the US is critical for Australia's future."
It is expected that while in Washington Mr Rudd will also meet Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton as well as members of the US Congress.
"I look forward to using my meetings in Washington to build on the strong ties that
already exist between our nations," Mr Rudd said.
He also announced on Friday the appointment of Philip Green, a senior official in
the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, as his new senior adviser on foreign
affairs, defence and national security.
Mr Green, who headed the secretariat of the Flood review into Australia's
intelligence agencies, replaces Gary Quinlan who has been appointed Australia's new
ambassador to the United Nations.