Australian PM to meet Obama at White House

WASHINGTON. February 27. KAZINFORM U.S. President Barack Obama has invited Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to visit Washington next month, the White House announced Thursday.

"President Obama will meet Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of Australia at the White House on Tuesday, March 24. Australia is a close ally of the United States," said the White House in a statement. "The two leaders will consult on effective measures to respond to the global financial crisis, as well as Afghanistan, climate change, nuclear nonproliferation, and other issues," the statement said. The United States is Australia's fourth largest export market and its second largest source of imports. The United States is also the largest investor in Australia. Rudd's predecessor John Howard was one of the Bush administration's strongest international supporters for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and had sent Australian troops to the two overseas battle fields. Rudd has indicated that the Australian government would withdraw about 550 troops from Iraq, Kazinform cites Xinhua.