The two leaders agreed that it was vital to coordinate aid for areas left desolate by the Asian catastrophe, to ensure that all areas of need were covered.

"President Bush welcomed Canada being among the core nations that should be catalyzing international efforts under a coordinated effort under the United Nations auspices," said Martin's advisor Jonathan Fried, of the Privy Council office.

Martin's 20-minute conversation with Bush, vacationing at his Texas ranch, came a day after Canada put in place a unilateral debt moratorium for nations hit by the disaster.

Canada billed the move as a signal to its partners in the Paris Club of creditor nations, ahead of its January 12 meeting in the French capital.

Martin also spoke to Australian Prime Minister John Howard and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan about disaster relief efforts, Fried said.

"Both prime minister Howard and prime minister Martin agreed that international coordination under a United Nations umbrella is key," he said.

Canada's governmental contribution to disaster relief efforts reached 48 million US dollars on Friday after the western province of Alberta set aside combined aid worth 4.1 million US dollars.

The federal government also announced that it would match money donated through certain non-governmental organisations by Canadians dollar for dollar until January 11.

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