Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith says he disagrees with suggestions that Australia's relationship with Japan has been strained by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

The Prime Minister has asked the US Secretary of State to consider a scheme designed to cut down on waiting times for Australian citizens on arrival at US airports.

President Bush is to host British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at the White House April 17 for talks expected to include Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran.

President Bush has thanked Australia for its contributions to Afghanistan and Iraq, despite Canberra's decision to pull its 550 combat troops from Iraq.

China and Malawi agreed to strengthen military cooperation in various fields during the talks between the defense ministers of the two countries here on Wednesday.

Li Changchun, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said Tuesday that China will enhance mutual political trust and strengthen bilateral cooperation with Mauritania.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's upcoming visit to Laos will further promote the relations between China and Laos, and deepen cooperation among countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion(GMS), a senior Chinese diplomat said in Beijing Wednesday.

China is ready to work with Samoa to increase pragmatic cooperation and advance traditional friendship, said top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo on Wednesday.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has begun a visit to Brazil for talks with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on energy cooperation and regional issues.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown have called for banks to declare the full extent of their losses due to the current financial crisis.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy winds up a two-day state visit to Britain Thursday with promises of greater cooperation and closer bilateral ties within Europe to face new global challenges.

Li Changchun, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said in Nouakchott, capital of Mauritania Tuesday that China is ready to push forward traditional friendship with Mauritania in the new era.