Regional road map is best way forward for Asia, says Rudd
Labor PM seeks a common Asian vision and shared political, economic and security agenda
On the brink of Australia's federal election, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd told the South China Morning Post that the peaceful rise of China should be accommodated, and that China's legitimate security interests needed to be acknowledged and respected.
But Rudd said the US would continue to be a key Asia-Pacific player and its alliances had to be respected.
"The June 2013 summit in California between President Obama and President Xi [Jinping ] demonstrated the commitment of both leaders to build further US-China relations," Rudd said in an e-mail response to Post questions.
Conservative opposition leader Tony Abbott, who is tipped to win tomorrow's election, did not reply to questions from the Post, but he was quoted in Sydney media this week as saying he would visit Asian capitals, including Beijing, before Washington and London.
In a speech to the AustCham Beijing in July last year, Abbott promised engagement with China rather than containment, and co-operation rather than strategic competition.
Labour Party leader Rudd proposes a regional road map - "a Pax Pacifica" - based on members of the region building a common vision and a shared political, economic and security agenda.