WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush on Friday discussed efforts to curb worsening global financial crisis with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, the White House said.

    "As part of his ongoing discussions with world leaders on the global financial situation, President Bush spoke with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd this morning," U.S. National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.

    Prior to his discussion with Rudd, Bush had seperate telephone discussions with leaders of Britain, France, and Italy, Germany and Brazil, calling for joint efforts to solve the financial crisis spreading around the globe.

    The Bush administration is trying to seek joint efforts to solve the current economic crisis, the worst since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

    Bush is due to have talks at the White House over global economic crisis with finance ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan on Saturday.