The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Washington

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd called Monday for careful management of US-China relations, saying it was critical for the success of the "Pacific Century". "For Australia, the single core question of whether ours will be a Pacific century rests on the long-term management of this most critical relationship," he told a forum of the Washington-based Brookings Institution. The term Pacific Century had been used previously to describe the 21st century that some believed will be dominated, especially economically, by the Pacific Rim states, particularly China, Japan and the United States. More recently, the term Asia Century was coined to place greater emphasis on Asian nations, including India. Rudd, who arrived last Thursday in Washington on his first major overseas trip since becoming prime minister, said there should be "continued good management" of relations between Washington and Beijing.