CANBERRA, Australia (AP): Prime Minister Kevin Rudd put Australia's economic interests at the top of his agenda for a world trip beginning Thursday that also will focus on his country's military deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Rudd was set to depart later Thursday on a 17-day trip that will take him to Washington, Brussels, Bucharest, London and Beijing.

Rudd told a university forum in Sydney on Wednesday that Australia's economic interests would dominate his first world trip as prime minister.

``In all the capitals I will visit, advancing Australia's economic interests will be at the top of the government's agenda,'' Rudd said in the speech.

He said he also would discuss security policy, climate change, human rights and foreign aid with world leaders.

Ahead of his meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush on Friday, Rudd described the United States as ``an overwhelming force for good in the world'' and ``a crucial economic partner.''