Oz Govt. reconsidering Rudd's concept of 'Asia-Pacific community'

Canberra, July 11 (ANI): Australian Government is making progress in the proposal made by former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to create a new Asia-Pacific community, which aimed to bring together the United States, Australia and Asian nations in a new forum.

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has said that the 'Association of Southeast Asian Nations' is considering if the US and Russia should be in the east Asia summit or a new group.

"We think that we might not be too far away from getting a very good practical outcome to the proposal... that would meet the purpose of the Asia Pacific Community," Smith said.

Earlier, this month, Australian Prime Minister Jullia Gillard had discarded Rudd's concept of an 18-nation "Asia Pacific community", saying that the project has failed.

Gillard had said that among the list of Rudd's policies that she is changing; include this part of foreign policy, which needed consideration. (ANI)