Clark chats to Bush about disaster management plans

PUSAN - Prime Minister Helen Clark says she talked with United States President George W Bush at the first session of the Apec leaders summit in Pusan, South Korea yesterday.

Miss Clark said they had discussed management disaster plans which was of great relevance to New Zealand as the capital - Wellington - was on a fault line.

There had been no need to discuss improving relations between the two countries as they were in a healthy state, Miss Clark said.

Earlier at Apec the Foreign Minister Winston Peters had enlisted the aid of Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer to put in a good word for New Zealand as part of his bid to improve relations between New Zealand and the United States.

The first leaders session focused on economic issues, and tomorrow the 21 Apec leaders meet again to finalise a joint statement.

- NZPA