Future Chinese leader gets Australia: Rudd
CHINA'S president in-waiting Xi Jinping has a good grasp of where Australia fits into the Asian region, former prime minister Kevin Rudd says.
Mr Xi visited Australia in 2010 just days before Mr Rudd, a passionate Sinophile, was toppled as Labor leader by Julia Gillard.
Then vice-president, Mr Xi is about to be anointed as China's next president by the country's ruling communist party.
The party's leaders are meeting in Beijing for their week-long 18th congress.
Mr Rudd, who has just returned from a trip to China, said Mr Xi made the most of his visit to Australia two years ago, and was therefore no stranger to the country.
The two leaders engaged in an "enormously in-depth exchange" over many hours of discussions about China, relations with the US and Australia's place in Asia.
"I think therefore we have a good grasp of who Xi Jinpin is," Mr Rudd told ABC radio on Friday.
"I think he has a reasonable grasp of where we fit in the galaxy of stars as well."
The former prime minister also has called on re-elected US President Barack Obama and Mr Xi to forge a new strategic roadmap for Sino-American relations.
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