(For related story see APEC/UPDATE 2 or [ID:nSYD89110])

Sept. 5 (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush and Chinese President Hu Jintao were among the first leaders to arrive in Sydney for the annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic cooperation forum.

Here are brief biographies of some key attendees and the issues they are likely to raise:

* JOHN HOWARD:

-- Howard, who has led Australia since 1996, is looking for an Asia-Pacific replacement for the Kyoto pact, which he criticises for punishing energy-rich countries such as Australia, a major coal exporter, and developing giants like China. Hosting a successful APEC, and securing a "Sydney declaration" that could draw in the so-far opposed interests of top carbon emitters China and the U.S. would bolster Howard's limp green credentials, and could boost his re-election bid ahead of national polls expected later this year. However, his unstinting support for George W. Bush and for keeping Australian troops in Iraq "for as long as necessary to guarantee security" has sent his approval ratings plummeting.

* GEORGE W. BUSH:

-- Stopping over in Iraq for a surprise visit on Monday, U.S. leader Bush has landed amid anti-war protests and tight security in Sydney. He plans to leave the APEC summit a day early to fly back to Washington to hear a major Congress report on Iraq. With his term ending in Nov. 2008, Bush also seeks a strong APEC stand on the stalled Doha round of free trade talks, which has seen only lukewarm support from relatively poor APEC nations such as the Philippines.

* HU JINTAO:

-- The first APEC leader to arrive, Chinese President Hu will also be one of the longest-staying, spending seven days in Australia, compared to Bush's four. Hu headed straight to western Australia on Tuesday to tour one of the major sources of raw commodities, such as iron ore, that are fuelling growth in Asia's second-biggest economy. Hu will likely field questions on trade and investment policy, following recent problems with made-in-China goods. Finding common ground on climate change is also high on the agenda for Beijing, under international pressure to cut its carbon emissions, predicted to overtake the U.S. by 2008.

* VLADIMIR PUTIN:

-- Russian President Putin is expected to sign a uranium deal with Howard on what would be the first visit ever by a Russian, or formerly Soviet, leader to Australia. Critics fear Russia could channel some of the uranium it is chasing for its planned civilian nuclear power expansion to Iran's controversial nuclear programmes. Along with Bush, and South Korean leader Roh who steps down in December, the meeting will also be Putin's last before his term ends next March.

* SHINZO ABE: -- Coalition building is the stated aim for Japanese Prime Minister Abe at APEC, as he escapes political turmoil at home to try and forge consensus on a post-Kyoto climate change framework and trade liberalisation. Regional security is also on the agenda. Abe will attend a trilateral summit with the United States and Australia on the sidelines which he hopes will become a permanent fixture at APEC. But the talks are viewed with some suspicion by Japan's giant neighbour China.

* SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO:

-- As host of a United Nations climate change meeting in Bali in December, Indonesian leader Yudhoyono will be flying the flag for developing nations' role in any proposed emissions schemes. Howard has also said a meeting between Yudhoyono, the leader of the largest Islamic country in the world, and U.S. President Bush could contribute "a huge part of the successful war against terrorism".

Sources: Reuters

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