Australian PM congratulates Obama on historic win

Australia's prime minister said Friday that he and U.S. President-lect Barack Obama have vowed to work together to deal with the global financial crisis.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd told reporters in Sydney that he spoke by telephone with Obama on Friday to congratulate him on his historic win and discuss the various challenges the lie ahead for the world. The two also taled about the issues of national security and climate change during the 10- to 15-minute conversation, Rudd said.

"It was a good conversation. It was a friendly conversation," Rudd said. "The challenges we face are great - they are global challenges, they are regional challenges. But I believe we have a strong partner in the U.S."

Rudd said he'd talked to Obama a few times during the presidential campaign, but Friday's conversation focused on the strength of the relationship between Australia and the U.S.

"I'm convinced that we're going to have a first-class working relationship with president-elect Obama," he said. "As I've said before publicly, I believe him to be a very good man. I've also said publicly that his message of hope for America is, I believe, equally a message of hope for the world."

Rudd was among nine world leaders to congratulate Obama on his victory during a round of phone calls Thursday in the U.S.