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BAGHDAD - Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki may visit Australia next year as the two countries seek to strengthen their ties once Australian combat troops are withdrawn.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has made a lightning trip to Iraq, conducted under tight security, to outline his government's plans to
Mr al-Maliki and senior US officials in Baghdad.
A high-level Iraqi delegation will visit Australia next month to look at ways to address the challenge of getting farming up and running in the war-battered country.
Mr Rudd also offered up to 100 scholarships at Australian universities for Iraqi agriculture students and researchers to help get the country back on its feet.
Addressing a joint press conference after the meeting, Mr Rudd and Mr al-Maliki said the two countries had agreed to beef up their economic links.
And Mr al-Maliki said he was satisfied with Labor's decision not to replace its current deployment of 550 combat troops once their rotation ends next June.
"Initially I am happy the Australian forces were a partner in the decision (to invade Iraq in March 2003)," he said through an interpreter.
"At the same time I am happy that when the mission comes to an end, the Australian forces have managed to establish a long-term future relationship between the two countries.
"The timeline that the prime minister has mentioned for (the withdrawal) of these forces ... does not apply to the forces that protect the oil export industry."
Mr Rudd said Australia would continue to support Iraq by keeping a navy deployment in the Gulf to assist in long-term security of Iraqi exports, and would continue training Iraqi soldiers and police in Australia or in neighbouring Jordan.
"We look forward to strengthening bilateral relations between Australia and Iraq in the years ahead ... to build a new Iraqi democracy and look forward to be this country's long-term partner in the future," he said.
Making his second visit to Baghdad but his first as prime minister, Mr Rudd invited Mr al-Maliki to visit Australia, an invitation the Iraqi leader said he was considering.
"I am definitely very thankful for the invitation from the prime minister and I am looking to fulfil it as soon as possible," he said.
He thanked Mr Rudd for visiting Iraq so early in his prime ministership.
"We are happy to receive him in Iraq, especially when he has not been in his position for more than two and half weeks," he said.
"It is a sign of attention and concern towards our country. We had positive talks with him that opened doors for future cooperation between Australia and Iraq."
In their half-hour talks, the two leaders discussed increasing trade between Iraq and Australia, including the need for Australian companies to invest in Iraq's oil sector.
Australia is keen to regain its role as a major wheat supplier to Iraq, one of the world's biggest importers.
Iraq suspended dealings with AWB in February 2006 over A$300 million ($343.5 million) in kickbacks the Australian wheat exporter paid to Saddam Hussein's regime, but has agreed to restart imports by mid next year.
- AAP
