Aussie PM leaves for world trip

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PM Kevin Rudd embarks on world tour

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Australian PM Kevin Rudd leaves for a 17-day world tour today where he will lay out his country's new approach to the world diplomatic stage, described by the prime minister as "creative middle power diplomacy".

Mr Rudd will visit foreign leaders in Washington, New York, London, Beijing, Brussels and Bucharest where he is expected to talk up the strength of Australia's economy, as well as forge new alliances.

Mr Rudd has said Australia must engage further with the world rather than rely on our "national assets..to protect the nation from the turbulence ahead".

Using a speech to the East Asia Forum in Sydney last night, Mr Rudd said it was time Australia became more engaged in important global decision-making issues such as financial stability, climate change and security and has announced his intention to work more closely with the United Nations.

He criticised the previous government's foreign affairs policy saying those who believed Australia could continue to live in "splendid isolation" were mistaken.

Prime Minister Rudd is expected to chart a more middle course in the nation's diplomacy than the pro-US policy of his predecessor John Howard who he defeated in an election last year. His government has already announced the withdrawal of Australian forces from Iraq by the middle of the year, promising a further concentration on the fight against insurgents in Afghanistan.

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has said the prime minister will also use the occasion of the world tour to push for permanent seats on the UN's Security Council for Japan and India.

The speech outlining the foreign policy aims of the Rudd government was the first since the election of the Labor government in November. The government has concentrated on domestic issues in its first three months in office.