International affairs 3 Howard Government

howard , other apec leaders @ apec australia 2007

australia s commitment iraq war continued through final term of howard government, , australian military presence in afghanistan recommenced in 2005 , expanded conflict continued.

following 2004 asian tsunami, government pledged us$820 million worth of assistance affected countries, including us$761 million indonesia. in 2005, support of indonesia, howard government secured seat australia @ east asian summit.

in 2005, howard reflected on government s cultural , foreign policy outlook in oft repeated terms:

john howard conducted second visit india in 2006. australia-india trade relationship had not undergone growth witnessed in other regional markets during term of howard government, during talks india expressed desire purchase australian uranium. howard government moved overturn australia s policy of not selling material india on basis of being non-signatory nuclear non-proliferation treaty. howard wanted expand australia-india relations, , supported moves india included in quadrilateral security dialogue involving india, australia, japan , united states. following howard s loss @ 2007 election, rudd government discarded howard government s support uranium sales india, , inclusion in new regional defence alliance.

following continued political violence in zimbabwe, howard government moved in may 2007 ban australian cricket team conducting tour of zimbabwe. howard branded robert mugabe of zimbabwe grubby dictator , said feared australian tour used propaganda purposes repressive mugabe regime.

discussion of increased japanese-australian-usa defence ties discussed when howard government played host 2007 apec meeting, culminating in leaders week in sydney. leaders, including president bush, chinese president hu jintao , russian president vladimir putin discussed trade, climate change, energy security, counter-terrorism , anti-corruption policy asia pacific. in important trade agreements, woodside energy , petrochina company limited signed $45 billion agreement supply china lng gas, , russia , australia signed nuclear co-operation pact import more $1 billion year in australian uranium. in climate change policy, sydney declaration saw developing countries (notably china) officially agree on need set goals cutting greenhouse gas emissions.