Rudd's 17 day tour

[2020hindsight]

Any opinions on Rudd's tour ?
has he surprised you in a positive sense?
in a negative sense?
done well in any case?

Although it's almost over, are there any highlights worth mentioning?
we are only talking about Australia's interface with the world after all

 

[explod]

Think he has got a bit carried away, swept off his feet with Dubya, the salute unnerved me a bit. Had the feeling I felt when Latham overdid the handshake with Johnny prior to the previous election.

Could be just playing the fit in game, I think Blair will be judged well for keeping on good terms with GW. Allows them to have a say (or at least input) over the war button perhaps.

Interesting times

 

[agro]

As a one eyed liberal supporter, i think Rudd is doing quiet a good job! better than i expected..

i was impressed by his mandarin skills (pitty he didn't say what they wanted to hear) and the fact that he is building a number of relationships with foreign leaders.

it is also good that he is meeting with the Chinese and top mining leaders to secure future contracts and prices.

 

[2020hindsight]

agro -
ps I agree that twiggy would also make a great pm

 

[Julia]

I admire his energy. He packed a great deal into the 17 days.
Bits left me feeling really proud of him, and others made me squirm, e.g. the 'salute' which came across as a silly schoolboy sort of gesture, quite undignified, and then I felt he could have left the human rights criticism towards China for a later time when he has more firmly established his credentials as a world leader which is what he seems to be aspiring to be.

I had the metaphorical sense that he was striding round the world, had a mental picture of a smallish bloke in great big boots, telling everyone how the place should be run, and - whilst it was done with his usual aplomb and articulation - I personally would have preferred a somewhat less aggressive approach.

 

[2020hindsight]

lol - here's a post on an SBS poll...
fortunately there are currently 6 who disgree, but sadly there are also 8 posters who agree

http://news.sbs.com.au/worldnewsaus...ng_australia39s_international_standing_543913

LOOKING FOR A SPINE FROM PLANET EARTH SAYS: 07:20:53 PM Sunday, 6th April, 2008 Well now we have it. We understand, Mr. Rudd really doesn't have a spine. It seems Mr. Rudd is turning yellow. How can Mr. Rudd think he is the leader of Australia, the country with a soul, if he doesn't even know how to deal with the Chinese. Does Mr. Rudd really believe he is going to go to China and protest at what is happening in Tibet, by indicating to the Chinese Communist Party, that he (Mr. Rudd) is not happy with the way the Chinese government has handled the Tibet situation. How naive. Does he really believe that Chinese Government Officials will be worried, or even ashamed if Mr. Rudd spanks them with verbal displeasure. Lets be honest, the Chinese could not even spell ashamed.
....
If Mr. Rudd, wants me to announce his name as Prime Minister Rudd, then I expect him to have the spine, to step back and not attend the Olympic Opening.

There is only one way of teaching the Chinese a lesson, and it requires a big stick and a heavy hand. President Truman gave it to the Russians during World War II, and ...etc ..

 

[2020hindsight]

Meeting with GWB
- Iraq, Afghanistan, GW

US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke
- The global credit crisis

Mtg with all 3 US presidential hopefuls

Mtg with UN in NY
- Aus in the United Nations Security Council maybe?

Whilst in NY - hosting dinner for a group of expatriate Australians at the Australian Embassy in Washington.
- mini version of the 2020 Summit

Mtgs with senior European Commission leaders in Brussels
before heading to Bucharest to attend NATO summit (with Joel Fitzgibbon)
- Afghanistan, etc

Mts in London with Brown and the Queen
- including taking part in a Progressive Government conference

Mtgs in China with President Mr Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao
- Tibet, GW, Carbon capture and storage, coal industry

Mtg with Musharraf
- Afghanistan, Taliban operating from Pakistan
- cricket tour of Pakistan

PS etc ( I'm sure to have missed heaps)

Kevin Rudd's first major overseas tour as prime minister will be a marathon trip that will circle the globe.

The 18-day journey will take Mr Rudd to the United States, Britain and China, with stops in Brussels to meet European Union leaders and Bucharest for the NATO summit.

He will have a diverse agenda - the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, trade and the global credit crisis - as he meets world leaders including US President George W Bush, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Mr Rudd has made brief sorties to Indonesia and the Pacific, as well a whistle-stop visit to Iraq and Afghanistan, since winning government last November.

But this trip will be his first major foray on the international stage.

Mr Rudd heads to Beijing with the Chinese crackdown on Tibetan pro-independence protesters still a major issue, and with the opposition continuing to suggest that Tokyo - which isn't on his itinerary - is feeling neglected.

But first stop after he leaves Australia on Thursday will be Washington, where he will be hosted at the White House by Mr Bush and will meet senior members of the US administration.

It will be Mr Rudd's first chance to talk to the US president face to face about Australia's withdrawal of combat troops from Iraq in the middle of this year, but the Bush administration has given every indication it isn't disturbed by the move.

The global credit crisis and its potential to impact Australia will be uppermost on Mr Rudd's mind when he meets US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke, the man pulling the interest rate lever in America.

While in the US, Mr Rudd will make a quick side trip to New York to meet United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon, in keeping with Labor's strategy of a more multilateral approach to foreign policy.

From the US he heads to Europe, where he will visit Brussels for meetings with senior European Commission leaders before heading to Bucharest for the NATO summit.

Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon will join him at the summit.

It will be the first time Australia has attended the event and the nation will try to convince its coalition partners in Afghanistan it should have a bigger say in determining strategy.

In London, Mr Rudd will meet Mr Brown and have an audience with the Queen, as well as taking part in a Progressive Government conference.

The last stop on Mandarin-speaking Mr Rudd's tour will be Beijing, where he will meet Mr Hu and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.

He finishes with an address to an economic conference in southern China before heading home.

Today (Saturday) is Mr Rudd's last day in China, and the last of his 17 day world tour. He'll have a formal meeting with President Hu Jintao, and address an economic forum.

 

[2020hindsight]

Who's on first base ? - (based on Abbott & Costello Routine)
PS Yassar Arafat died in 2004 - Also Kofi Annan hasn't been the UN Secretary General since 2006.
oops then again Hu entered office in 2002. Coni was the national security advisor under gwb 2001-2005 before becoming the secretary of state - so it makes sense after all

PS As someone said the other day, this week arguably showed that Rudd speaks Chinese better than Bush speaks English.

President George W. Bush, Hu's on First?

Condoleeza: - Good morning, Mr. President.
George B. : - Oh Condoleeza, nice to see you. What's happening?
Condoleeza : - Well, Mr. President, I have the report here about the new leader in China.
George B. : - Great, Condi. Lay it on me.
Condoleeza : - Mr. President, Hu is the new leader of China.
George B. : - Well, that's what I want to know.
Condoleeza : - But that's what I'm telling you, Mr. President.
George B. : - Well, that's what I'm asking you, Condie. Who is the new leader of China?
Condoleeza : - Yes.
George B. : - I mean the fellow's name.
Condoleeza : - Hu.
George B. : - The guy in China.
Condoleeza : - Hu.
George B. : - The new leader of China.
Condoleeza : - Hu.
George B. : - The Chinaman!
Condoleeza : - Hu is leading China, Mr. President.
George B. : - Whaddya' asking me for?
Condoleeza : - I'm telling you Hu is leading China.
George B. : - Well, I'm asking you, Condie. Who is leading China?
Condoleeza : - That's the man's name.
George B. : - That's who's name?
Condoleeza : - Yes.

(Pause.)

George B. : - Will you or will you not tell me the name of the new leader of China?
Condoleeza : - Yes, sir.
George B. : - Yassir? Yassir Arafat is in China? I thought he was in the Middle East.
Condoleeza : - That's correct.
George B. : - Then who is in China?
Condoleeza : - Yes, sir.
George B. : - Yassir is in China?
Condoleeza : - No, sir.
George B. : - Then who is?
Condoleeza : - Yes, sir.
George B. : - Yassir?
Condoleeza : - No, sir.

(Pause. Crumples paper)

George B. : - Condi, you're starting to piss me off now, and it's not 'cause you're black neither. I need to know the name of the new leader of China. So why don't you get me the Secretary General of the United Nations on the phone.
Condoleeza : - Kofi Annan?
George B. : - No, thanks. And Condi, call me George. Stop with that ebonics crap.
Condoleeza : - You want Kofi?
George B. : - No.
Condoleeza : - You don't want Kofi.
George B. : - No. But now that you mention it, I could use a glass of milk. And then get me the U.N.
Condoleeza : - Yes, sir.
George B. : - Not Yassir! The guy at the United Nations.
Condoleeza : - Kofi?
George B. : - Milk! Will you please make that call?
Condoleeza : - And call who?
George B. : - Well, who is the guy at the U.N?
Condoleeza : - No, Hu is the guy in China.
George B. : - Will you stay out of China?!
Condoleeza : - Yes, sir.
George B. : - And stay out of the Middle East! Just get me the guy at the U.N.
Condoleeza : - Kofi.
George B. : - All right! With cream and two sugars. Now get on the phone.

(Condi picks up the phone.)

Condoleeza : - Hello. Rice, here.
George B. : - Rice? Good idea. And get a couple of egg rolls, too, Condi. Maybe we should send some to the guy in China. And the Middle East. Can you get chinese food in the Middle East? I don't know.

 

[Timmy]

17-days.

Shame it wasn't more like that famous 3 hour tour.

 

[2020hindsight]

tim, you saying he's poll driven? or pole dancer driven?

PS I have a cynical mate - says the only reason he didn't go to Vietnam is that the Libs would probably start a catchcry .. "you can take the boy out of Nambour, but you can't take the bore out of Nam".

PS you'd have thought he'd have called in to Checkers Club(?) - or Scores or whatever - to say gday to the girls at least.
Kevin Rudd and strip clubs!

 

[skint]

Hi all,
After 4 months or so in office, I was expecting to be thinking, "well Rudd's made some significant blunders, but unless he declares war on the rest of the world, we're still in front of the previous trainwreck". On the contrary, I think he's nailed the job to date, as reflected in the astounding approval ratings he is achieving, even for a honeymoon period. As examples, Kyoto was ratified and the importance of climate change properly recognised, an initial state/federal consensus was achieved on water and health, and lately, his Kontiki tour (which sadly lacked lap dancers), recast Australia as something more than America's bumboy. On the latter, I have one caveat.

There's little doubt that Rudd's status as "dag of the century" (nay millenium) will not be under threat any time soon. I mean, he goes straight past tea and scones, and resides somewhere between Enid Blyton's "lashings of ginger beer" and iced vo-vos. The nerdy mock salute was a cringe, but if a dweeby greeting is people's greatest concern, I think there is a bit of a priority problem. Dweebs do these things from time to time. The cut and thrust of his trip was right on the money.

In the US, he reiterated that the alliance was rock solid, whilst also restating Australia's position on the war in Iraq. Given that Obama is the most likely next president, the positions serves more to align than alienate. Its 10 minutes to midnight for GW, and what he thinks of Rudd or Australia matters little. Incidentally, George should be feeling pretty good about his upcoming lot, due to the fact that when midnight arrives, he'll turn back into a pumpkin, and double his intellectual capacity.

In England, Rudd raised the republic issue, stating that it was still on the agenda, but not the highest priority. Tick.

In Afghanistan, he told the Musharraf to pull his finger out, without any diplomatic fallout. Tick.

At the UN, he argued for a seat at the table. Tick.

I think the real coup, however, was China. To be able to put forward the opinion of the vast majority of Australians on human rights, and at the same time progress trade relations and discuss cimate change shouldn't be under-rated. While some may think that Australia should "learn its place", I feel it is important to elucidate a country's position on issues, regardless of its size. It all adds to the pool. Further, I have no doubt China will continue to buy our resources and sell us plastic toys. That said, Rudd himself has warned against overstating the significance of his comments and discussions.


"I don't intend to overstate what I can do or we can do, I believe in being helpful at the margins where we can.

"I've described before the need for a creative middle power diplomacy that means nudging international agendas forward, helping where you can, whether it's on climate change, whether it's on global free trade negotiations or the current difficult situation with China in relation to Tibet."

"I wouldn't overstate the significance of what I have done here," he told Macquarie Radio by phone from Beijing.

"I've just executed my responsibility as prime minister of Australia," he said, saying the prime minister's job was "not to pretend there aren't problems when some of them exist, and simply to put them as best and as effectively as I can".


Alan Ramsey from the SMH puts it well:


Kevin Rudd confronted China this week. Brendan Nelson confronted Mike Carlton. Our visiting Prime Minister, very deliberately, delivered an unwanted truth on Tibetan human rights to the world's most populous nation. Our new Opposition Leader delivered radio 2UE's Sydney listeners some homely advice from his mum on the need to "always be neatly presented". You might think the comparison a cheap shot. You would be wrong.

To publicly stand up to the Chinese, in their own capital, in their own language, on an issue so sensitive to the planet's last great totalitarian state - and, since May last year, Australia's biggest (in dollars) trading partner - is something no visiting head of government, of any kind, has ever done, let alone one from this country. To say it took courage and no little risk only parrots the obvious. What it took was leadership of the most dramatic kind.

In recent years, we have been force-fed national leadership, wrapped in the flag, that gloried in sticking its head up the backside of Washington and its dependent satellite in the Middle East. To have an Australian prime minister behave as Rudd has done in Beijing is to think that maybe he is different after all and not just another political control freak with a brain as big as his smile. The bloke is worth watching.

 

[Spaghetti]

Has some glowing international reviews, has represented Australia very well. In England 1,000 seats to hear him speak were sold out in 15 minutes. One article I read in an english newspaper hailed him new hero of the global centre left up there with Bill Clinton. If he keeps this up we may end up with a celebrity PM!

 

[2020hindsight]

I'm sure you've heard the term "speaking Chinglish" - eg the signs below.
You wonder if some of Kevin's Chinese came across a bit "Eng-ineese"?

 

[skint]

I'm sure you've heard the term "speaking Chinglish" - eg the signs below.
You wonder if some of Kevin's Chinese came across a bit "Eng-ineese"?

Hi 20/20, Do you recall Bob Hawke's statement in China after it went through the interpreter? "Lets not play silly buggers" became "lets not all be cavorting homosexuals" or words to that effect. I'm sure it went down a treat.

 

[2020hindsight]

Hi 20/20, Do you recall Bob Hawke's statement in China after it went through the interpreter? "Lets not play silly buggers" became "lets not all be cavorting homosexuals" or words to that effect. I'm sure it went down a treat.

lol - I'm sure that would have impressed em
or the computer that translated "hydraulic ram"
and it came out as "water buffalo"

PS I went to HK - asked the secretary "How do I say " good morning, nice day" in Cantonese.?"
she said just say "ngau hai chee seen low"
next day I'm proudly displaying my new langauge skills.
turns out it means "I am a lunatic".
she was cracking up in the background of course .

 

[2020hindsight]

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23511829-5006301,00.html
Rudd's speech to Chinese students at Peking University
THE following is an English translation of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's speech delivered in Mandarin to Chinese students at Peking University.
A conversation with China’s youth on the future (by Kevin Rudd)
9 April 2008 Peking University

what he thinks he said :-

I begin by congratulating Peking University which this year celebrates its 110th anniversary – making this university three years older than the Commonwealth of Australia.

Peking University is the most famous in China. etc

PS what he actually said:-

I begin already congratulate Peking Duck School which this year celebratory its 110th massage – making this university very three years long older than the Bank of Australia.

Peking Duck School is very most famous near China. etc

PS skint, more on that Bob Hawke idea,
then there was the time I translated "your blood's worth bottling"
and my Chinese friend looked at me quizzically -
"what, - you want to kill me and put my blood in a bottle?"


PS more from Rudd's speech:-

This year, 2008, is the 90th anniversary of some key events of the May Fourth era:

— through his essays for the major magazine New Youth the writer and educator Hu Shi successfully advocated the use of modern vernacular Chinese in education and the media. This helped bring about a major change in the way that the young people of China expressed themselves to their compatriots.

Also the writer Lu Xun published the first, and justifiably famous, story in modern Chinese, Diary of a Madman.

sheesh sounds like he's done his homework. .

The idea of a “harmonious world” depends on China being a participant in the world order and, along with others, acting in accordance with the rules of that order. Failing this, “harmony” is impossible to achieve.

“Responsible stakeholder” contains the same idea at its core – China working to maintain and develop the global and regional rules-based order.

This year, as China hosts the Olympics, the eyes of the world will be on you and the city of Beijing. It will be a chance for China to engage directly with the world, both on the sports field and on the streets of Beijing.

Some have called for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics because of recent problems in Tibet. As I said in London on Sunday, I do not agree. I believe the Olympics are important for China’s continuing engagement with the world.

Australia like most other countries recognises China’s sovereignty over Tibet. But we also believe it is necessary to recognise there are significant human rights problem in Tibet. The current situation in Tibet is of concern to Australians.

We recognise the need for all parties to avoid violence and find a solution through dialogue. As a long-standing friend of China I intend to have a straightforward discussion with China’s leaders on this. We wish to see the year 2008 as one of harmony, and celebration – not one of conflict and contention.

Harmony in the Natural Environment
Our shared future is not only one about harmony between nations and peoples.
It is also about harmony with nature — the “Unity of Man and Nature” — a concept with ancient roots in Chinese thought.
We all share responsibility for the future.
One of the big future challenges for Australia and China is climate change.

the idea of a “zhengyau” = a friend who is permitted to criticize
fwiw, back on another thread I asked some boke with chinese characters in his nicname to clarify a few things - called him pangyau - which is "friend" in Cantonese anyway

In the modern, globalised world, we are all connected; connected not only by politics and economics, but also in the air we breathe.

A true friend is one who can be a “zhengyou” , that is a partner who sees beyond immediate benefit to the broader and firm basis for continuing, profound and sincere friendship.

In other words, a true friendship which “offers unflinching advice and counsels restraint” to engage in principled dialogue about matters of contention.

It is the kind of friendship that I know is treasured in China’s political tradition.

It is the kind of friendship that I also offer China today.

 

[2020hindsight]

PS skint - more on that translation thingo..
there are a million subtleties that you can come unstuck with in these circumstances.
I also recall some girl put out a song in HK titled "the back side of your mind".

Someone had a word in her shelllike - and it suddenly reappeared on the market retitled "the far side of your mind" (or the dark side or something like that).

 

[2020hindsight]

"Mtgs in China with President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao"...
Yasuo Fukuda.. the 91st Prime Minister of Japan

A bit of Bill Leak's genius... (btw he has been hung in 11 Archibalds - that's a pretty well hung record.!

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/opinion/cartoons/

He has entered the Archibald Prize at least 13 times, and was hung 11 times. These included portraits of Donald Bradman in 1989, Malcolm Turnbull in 1994, Graham Richardson in 1995, Tex Perkins in 1997, Gough Whitlam in 1998, Sir Les Patterson in 2000 and Robert Hughes in 2001. He won the Packing Room prize twice (for Tex Perkins and Sir Les Patterson) and also won the people's choice award for Malcolm Turnbull. In addition two paintings of him by other artists have also won the people's choice award: a painting by Josonia Palaitis in 1995, and one by Esther Erlich in 2000.

He was interviewed in the 2005 Peter Berner documentary about the Archibald Prize called Loaded Brush.

More recently he has run into trouble by portraing the then leader of the opposition (now Prime Minister of Australia) Kevin Rudd, as Tintin (accompanied by Snowy). This has been resolved by promising to not profit from any sales of cartoons from this series.

 

[doogie_goes_off]

Let's hope Rudd gets his focus back on Local issues, he's not the foreign minister, we need him to sort out the labour market, inflation and start making good on on some election promises or he's straight back out the door as far as my next vote is concerned.

 

[2020hindsight]

Let's hope Rudd gets his focus back on Local issues, he's not the foreign minister, we need him to sort out the labour market, inflation and start making good on on some election promises or he's straight back out the door as far as my next vote is concerned.

I'm sure he will be focussing on local issues,

but I'm also sure our soldiers would appreciate it if his message sinks in - with NATO and/or Pakistan - that they (SAS etc) didn't have to continue to punch above their weight in Afghanistan.