Airtimes:  
Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore and Taipei
Wednesday, December 2 at 2130
Thursday, December 3 at 1230
Saturday, December 5 at 2000
Monday, December 7 at 0730 
Bangkok and Jakarta

Wednesday, December 2 at 2030
Thursday, December 3 at 1130
Saturday, December 5 at 1900
Monday, December 7 at 0630

CNN's Anna Coren meets Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at his residence in Canberra for a one-on-one 'Talk Asia' interview. He discusses his road from a country boy in Queensland to fielding calls from his fellow heads of state. Rudd discusses his expectations for the upcoming climate conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. He also talks about his country's ties with both the United States and China.

Since becoming Prime Minister, Rudd has been trying to give the country a louder voice. He refutes criticism that it's ego-driven: "I just have a simple view that we're here to make a difference. And for Australia to make a difference to the world, you've got to be active on the world stage...So whether it's on climate change, whether it's on global economic recovery through the G20 whereas Australia is a member, or whether it's on the great challenges of disarmament where we've commissioned to get with the Japanese and independent commission on how we bring about the elimination of nuclear weapons, we're active on all these spaces and others cause I'm into the business of making a difference, not just here for the ride."

Rudd also discusses his tireless work ethic, and the idea as to whether he micro-manages his staff: "When you're elected to this job, the people of Australia expect you to work hard. I think I do have a culture of hard work. I never have a view that things just happen automatically. You have got to make them happen," says Rudd.

Despite describing Australia's relationship with the United States as an "important bedrock", Rudd says he does not see himself as a "yes man" to America: "It's not really an Australian's nature to be that way...Alliance with America does not automatically mean compliance with America on every item of foreign policy or security policy. We have differences on one thing or another, whether it's trade policy, climate change or whatever, we'll make those differences known. As you know, we have a great tradition in Australia as being fairly frank. Frank but friendly. And that's our relationship with the American today.

He also shares his views on working with President Bush, and now President Obama: "With President Bush, I had a very good working relationship. We worked closely together, for example on the response to the global financial crisis." As for President Obama, he says: "He's a great guy. He's super smart and he's a guy of enormous conviction as well, whether it's on climate change, the economy, or the other big challenges we've got including Afghanistan."

Rudd also comments on Australia's relationship with another superpower, China - also Australia's largest trading partner: "With China, it's always going to be a challenging relationship from time to time...They're different political systems. China is run by the communist party. This is a liberal democracy. There are fundamental differences. We understand that. We respect those differences. So from time to time, you've gonna rub against each other. You just get on with managing those challenges when they emerge."

The former Beijing-based diplomat also has high hopes for China: "I am a big optimist about China's long-term future, not just in terms of the economic opportunities for the planet, the region and ourselves. But also engaging china in the great challenges of global and regional problem solving as well. Hiccups on the way, for sure but I think the trend is pretty good."

Rudd also tells Coren that he believes it's time to reach agreement on a climate change pact in Copenhagen in December: "There are times in the history of human kind when you actually have to step up to the plate. This I believe is one of them. This is driven by the science. It's clear. We're now going through extraordinary changes in terms of global temperatures, in Australia the same as well. The moral, the economic, the environmental obligation are huge and transparent. The political and bureaucratic opposition and the business opposition of acting is clear. We actually have to punch through and it's going to be tough. But I believe there's good result around the place to get a solid Copenhagen agreement and I certainly will be landing my shoulders to the wheel."

A preview of Prime Minister Rudd's commenting on the climate change is now available online at http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/tech/2009/11/20/intv.coren.aus.rudd.environ.cnn.
The full interview will also be available after the first airing online at www.cnn.com/talkasia.
For more information, please visit www.CNNPressroomAsia.com.
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