Fox McCloud
06-05-2008, 02:43 PM
Rudd Wants Europe-Style Union Established in Asia (Update1)
By Gemma Daley
June 5 (Bloomberg) -- Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd wants a Europe-style union in Asia, to pursue trade agreements and boost co-operation on terrorism and resource security.
Rudd, 50, said global power and influence was shifting toward Asia and Australia must drive the creation of a union including India and members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.
``We need to have a vision for an Asia-Pacific community,'' Rudd told the Asia Society Australia Center in a speech last night in Sydney. ``The danger of not acting is that we run the risk of succumbing to the perception that future conflict in our region may somehow be inevitable.''
Rudd, who ended John Howard's 11-year rule in November, appointed diplomat Richard Woolcott to lobby regional leaders over the new body. Rudd will visit Japan and Indonesia next week.
``We are part of the Asia-Pacific region and we must have deeper engagement with our friends and allies in the region,'' Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon told reporters in Canberra. ``That delivers security for Australia through trust and confidence.''
To contact the reporter on this story: Gemma Daley in Canberra at gdaley@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: June 4, 2008 21:31 EDT
source: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=a1f7aj40zhFk&refer=australia
I really wasn't expecting this...it looks like the race is on between the North American Union and the Asian Union--which will form first?
By Gemma Daley
June 5 (Bloomberg) -- Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd wants a Europe-style union in Asia, to pursue trade agreements and boost co-operation on terrorism and resource security.
Rudd, 50, said global power and influence was shifting toward Asia and Australia must drive the creation of a union including India and members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.
``We need to have a vision for an Asia-Pacific community,'' Rudd told the Asia Society Australia Center in a speech last night in Sydney. ``The danger of not acting is that we run the risk of succumbing to the perception that future conflict in our region may somehow be inevitable.''
Rudd, who ended John Howard's 11-year rule in November, appointed diplomat Richard Woolcott to lobby regional leaders over the new body. Rudd will visit Japan and Indonesia next week.
``We are part of the Asia-Pacific region and we must have deeper engagement with our friends and allies in the region,'' Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon told reporters in Canberra. ``That delivers security for Australia through trust and confidence.''
To contact the reporter on this story: Gemma Daley in Canberra at gdaley@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: June 4, 2008 21:31 EDT
source: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=a1f7aj40zhFk&refer=australia
I really wasn't expecting this...it looks like the race is on between the North American Union and the Asian Union--which will form first?