Blair and Howard

The Australian prime minister is set to arrive in Britain for key talks on the situation in Iraq .

The series of terrorist attacks in the country will be among the issues discussed when Tony Blair meets Australian premier John Howard during his visit to the UK, which continues until November 13.

Ahead of the visit, Howard defended Australia's role in the reconstruction of Iraq.

"We have contributed $120 million, on top of that we made a very effective significant military contribution, we still have 800-900 force personnel there," he said.

"We have other commitments, as Britain does of course, we've made a judgment, I think we're about fifth or sixth in aggregate contributions which is very good and very impressive given our size."

People from both Britain and Australia were killed in several of the recent major terrorist outrages, including Bali, and the two men are expected to discuss the war on terrorism, particularly in relation to countries in the Pacific region.

The official visit will also see discussion on bilateral trade and investment.

The central theme for the visit is the changing nature of relations between Britain and its key Commonwealth partner.

"We have a rich history and we'll always be bound together by common values and common practices, but it's also a very contemporary relationship, not only on the sporting battlefield, but indeed elsewhere," Howard said.

During the visit, both Howard and Blair will inaugurate the Australia-UK Leadership Forum.

It is aimed at providing an opportunity for government, business and community leaders from both countries to discuss policy issues.

"It will focus on ways to ensure that the bilateral relationship remains strong and relevant to our future," said Howard.

"It will harness the dynamism of recent years which has seen increasing numbers of young Australians and Britons living and working in each other's countries."

Howard is also set to meet the secretary-general of the Commonwealth, Don McKinnon, to discuss this year's heads of government meeting in Abuja.

The continuing Iraq conflict has repeated the long tradition of British and Australian forces fighting in joint wars.

As part of the visit Howard will mark the 85th anniversary of the Armistice of World War One with the dedication of the Australian War Memorial in London's Hyde Park.

"Australia served alongside Britain from the very beginning of both World War I and World War II and with the exception of Vietnam, Australia and Britain have fought together in every significant military conflict over the last 100 years," said Howard.

"We lost 102,000 Australians in military conflict, most of them, not all of them, but most of them in World War I and World War II.

"I think most of us will be hoping that that kind of sacrifice is never again required of the Australian people because the losses in those two wars were truly staggering. "