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Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of Australia, emphasizing the need of rejuvenating Australia relationship with India, has outlined a vision for new regional institution in the Asia Pacific region based on the European Union model. Prime Minister Rudd made his point while speaking at the Asia Society AustralAsia Centre annual dinner on Wednesday night.
The Australian Prime Minister remarked that we need to have a vision for the Asia-Pacific community, a vision that embraces a regional institution which spans the entire Asia-Pacific region, including the United States, China, Japan, India, Indonesia and the other states of the region. Prime Minister Rudd in his speech made a passing reference about the Indian state saying that in South Asia they need to re-energize their relationship with the other rising giant India. He emphasized that the rise of India and China represent great economic, environmental, energy policy and security reverberations for the future.
Prime Minister Rudd emphasized at the dinner that this is the Asia Pacific century. He further added that for the first time in the settled history of the continent, we find ourselves in the region that will be at the centre of global affairs. To discuss this proposal with countries in the region, PM Rudd announced the appointment of Richard Woolcott, founding member of the Asia Society AustralAsia Centre, former secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and former ambassador to the United Nations, who will visit the various capitals over the next six months.
