Friday, 7 September, 2007

The Herald Sun

PRIME Minister John Howard is expected to sign a deal today that will allow mining companies to export Australian uranium to Russia for its domestic use.

As Sydney holds an official public holiday, Russian President Vladimir Putin will become the first Russian or Soviet leader to visit Australia as he touches down ahead of the APEC leaders' meeting.

He will meet Mr Howard early today and they are expected to sign a nuclear safeguards deal allowing the export of Australian uranium to Russia for use in its nuclear reactors.

Australia already exports uranium to Russia for processing, but under the current agreement it must be sold on to other countries that Canberra permits.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark will also arrive today, along with leaders from Mexico, Chinese Taipei and APEC 2008 summit hosts Peru.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will be among the last to arrive, along with the leaders of Thailand and Malaysia.

Fresh from meeting Mr Howard yesterday, China's President Hu Jintao will early today speak with Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd.

But Mr Rudd has already made a good first impression, after delivering part of a welcome speech to Mr Hu in fluid Mandarin during a luncheon hosted by the prime minister yesterday.