Clinton Makes Scenic Run Before Tee-Off

President Clinton, enjoying a working holiday in Australia, went jogging by Sydney Harbor today to prepare for a date with “The Shark”--golfing champion Greg Norman.

“That’s what this is all about,” a panting Clinton said after a 20-minute run through Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens when asked about teeing off later in the day against Norman, an Australian.

Clinton on Wednesday became only the second U.S. president to address both houses of the Australian Parliament and used the occasion to deliver his first major foreign-policy speech since his Nov. 5 reelection.

In the speech, he reaffirmed Washington’s military, political and economic commitment to the Asia-Pacific region and called for a deeper engagement with China.

“In a global economy with global security challenges, America must look to the East no less than to the West,” Clinton said.

Clinton is spending nine days in the Asia-Pacific region, and the centerpieces of his trip are a meeting in Manila on Sunday with Chinese President Jiang Zemin and a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum the next day.

But the final three days of Clinton’s Australian visit will be dedicated to sightseeing and leisure, with today’s round of golf considered a highlight.

After his jog Wednesday morning, Clinton made an impromptu visit to the landmark opera house, enlisting security guard Jim Samuel to give him a tour. An opera house official soon rushed up and took over for Clinton’s 20-minute walkabout.

This evening, the Clintons fly to Australia’s tropical north for two days at the Great Barrier Reef resort of Port Douglas. They will leave Saturday for the Philippines.