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Australia PM Rudd sees Pacific union in 12 years

Singapore (dpa) - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd praised the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Tuesday while pushing his vision of an Asian Pacific Community by 2020.

In a whirlwind visit to Singapore, Rudd laid a wreath at Kranji war cemetery before dawn, met with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, and delivered a lecture to business leaders, academics and others.

Criticism of Asean for its lack of action "is a mistake," Rudd said. The 10-member organisation has had "great success in avoiding conflict among member states."

Noting Australia became Asean's first dialogue partner in 1944, Rudd said the grouping has "grown and matured."

Asean is "building a sense of regional identity" with the Asean Charter, which will turn it into a rules-based legal entity once ratified by all the members, Rudd said.

The grouping comprises Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Burma.

During the lecture organised by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Rudd also brought up his proposal for an Asia Pacific Community by 2020.

"We must face the future or the future will shape us," he said.

Rudd and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong signed a pact on defence cooperation earlier, characterising it as a natural step in strengthening bilateral relations.

The agreement expands military exercises, development of military expertise and resource sharing.

Rudd, in his first official visit to the city-state as prime minister, was scheduled to return to Australia after seven days abroad, starting with the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games.