Prime Minister travels to Malaysia

CANBERRA, Australia, July 6 (UPI) -- Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will talk about people smuggling when he meets in Malaysia with his counterpart Najib Razak, his office said.

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith will also take part in the talks, the Australia Broadcasting Corp. reported.

Julie Bishop, a spokeswoman for the opposition party's foreign affairs desk, said the meeting would be worthwhile if great cooperation results.

Malaysia is the first stop on a trip that will take Rudd to Germany, Switzerland, the Vatican and then Italy for the Group of Eight meeting of major economic powers.

Other items on his agenda include Australia's bid to host the World Cup of soccer and an audience with Pope Benedict XVI about sainthood for Mary MacKillop, a Roman Catholic nun who co-founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart.

Bishop criticized Rudd's plan to intercede with the pope on behalf of sainthood for MacKillop, saying it should be part of the political process.