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THE relationship between Australia and Japan is in first class working order, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said today.

Mr Rudd was scheduled to leave for Japan this morning for his first visit as Prime Minister to the Asian superpower.

The Prime Ministerr has been criticised for failing to visit Japan during a recent round-the-world trip.

“The relationship is in first class working order,” Mr Rudd told Channel 10.

“Japan is a partnership which is anchored in our comprehensive engagement on strategic matters, security matters and economic matters.

“The Asia-Pacific region involves many important states, Japan is critical.”

Mr Rudd said it was important to “attend to” all of the relationships Australia had in its region.

Deputy Opposition Leader Julie Bishop said today Mr Rudd had gone out of his way to offend Japan.

“His conduct toward Japan over the last six months has been unforgivable,” Ms Bishop told ABC TV.

 “He seems to have gone out of his way to offend them.”

“He went to the last election promising to take Japan to the international court on whaling.

“He sent an Australian government ship down to monitor (the Japanese whale hunt), released the photographs against the wishes of the Japanese Government and then on his first trip overseas snubbed Japan.”

Ms Bishop said all this left Mr Rudd with a “serious repair job to do”.

Meanwhile, the concept of an Asian version of the European Union, floated by Mr Rudd last week, had little merit, she said.

“This is another example of the prime minister just coming up with policy whims, floating it out there without doing any of the necessary groundwork.

“For a former diplomat this is quite extraordinary.”

Ms Bishop said it was “embarrassing” and “dangerous” for Mr Rudd to float such ideas without talking with other nations in the region.

“To suggest to the Asia-Pacific that Australia with a prime minister who has been in the job for about five minutes is now going to reorganise the architecture of the region without any notification ... is extraordinary.”

“I don`t think anybody knows what he`s actually got in mind.”

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Today`s Top Picks

Hillary Clinton bows out of race

PRESIDENTIAL hopeful Hillary Clinton has thrown her support behind Barack Obama in a bid to get a Democrat in the White House.

• Take40 PlayerTune into the latest Top 40
• Early start: Tots trot out business cards
• Ethics: Bid for human embryo cloning

Search for more stories on this topic on Newstext, our news archive service. Click here

Also in News

• `Unite`: Hillary`s White House bid over
• Bail hearing: Car ramming murder accused faces court
• Networking: Two-year-old tots trot out business cards
• Meeting: Panel to decide on human embryo cloning
• Diplomacy: `Rude Rudd` heads to Japan on first PM visit
• Rift: Croc Hunter`s grieving dad `hasn`t seen Bindi, Bob`
• RSL anger: `Aboriginal wars` memorial plan under fire
• Child porn: Teen, 16, questioned in hunt for predators

Video

Watch this Video NOW!

Week in review

NEWS.com.au takes a look back at the stories that made the headlines this week.

Latest videos

• Lab tested
• Grinspoon music live
• Wrestling superstar
• How to save wet mobile phones

More Video

Blogroll

Ask Bossy

Rent`s through the roof but am I too young to buy?

• Squanderlust: Doing weird things for the money?
• Jack Marx Live: Random thoughts for the day
• Blogocracy: Australia growing, growing, grown
• Fully Chic: Fashion industry`s next top skeletons
• Splat!: So who`s to say what art is anyway?
• Technology:Apple TV battles for the living room
• Justin Herald: Time to go on a financial diet

Advertisement

Planning a Holiday? - Visit our Europe section for the latest destination offers!

 

Overflowing with benefitsExperience life the Platinum Way With American Express Platinum

 

Online Auctions Online auctions on a range of big brands. Bid Now! Dontmissout.com.au

 

Meet Single WomenView photos of single women near you at match.com. Start flirting now!

 

Visit Business Sense For the latest business news, managerial insights & more.

 

WIN a stylish ASUS U1E notebook visit site

 

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