Rudd promises Clinton a “really good time” during her Oz trip in Nov

CANBERRA - Australia’s Foreign Minister, Kevin Rudd, who is on a week-long visit to Washington, lightened the mood of everyone present at a news conference by promising U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, that she would have “a really good time” when she visits Australia in November, to which Clinton replied jokingly “Oh I’m not so sure about that.”

“We intend to make it a really good time. Not in the sense that you all think,” The Herald Sun quoted Rudd, as saying, prompting laughter at the press conference.

Rudd insisted that the Australians are hospitable people and she would not enjoy her stay in the country.

The duo reportedly share a good rapport as they have worked together for years when Rudd was Prime Minister and Clinton was the likely Democratic presidential pick, before the rise of Obama, the paper reports.

Clinton cancelled a trip to Australia in January so that she could focus on the US response to the Haiti earthquake. She will attend the East Asian Summit regional conference in Vietnam on her way to Australia.

US President Barack Obama also cancelled an Australian visit twice this year, to focus on passing his health care package through the US Congress. The US ambassador to Australia, however, has said those plans are now back on the agenda, but no date has been set so far. (ANI)