Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will discuss free trade, a security agreement and look to resolve differences over whaling as he meets his Japanese counterpart Yasuo Fukuda on the final day of his five-day visit to Japan today.

Rudd has been accused of favouring China over Japan in diplomatic visits since his election but denied this yesterday in an address to the Japan National Press Club saying his failure to visit Japan until this week should be put in context.

Noting "six or seven" of his most senior ministers, including those responsible for foreign affairs and trade had visited Japan since his swearing in in December, he asked,  "How many Japanese Government ministers have been able to visit Australia in the same time? I don't think there are any."

Image: PM Kevin Rudd. Credit: jackmanson/flickr

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has used a visit to Hiroshima's Peace Park to begin a bold dialogue on world nuclear disarmament.

Mr Rudd laid a wreath at the park above which the Hiroshima nuclear bomb was detonated on August 6, 1945, then toured the museum for 90 minutes, rang a memorial bell for the children, and called for the world to shed its nuclear arms.

The PM was seemingly moved by the experience reported the Sydney Morning Herald.

Image right: Australian PM Kevin Rudd. Credit: djackmanson/flickr