It was important for countries of the wider Asia-Pacific region to have a discussion 'about the sort of regional architecture we want to see in the next 20 years', he said when delivering the Singapore Lecture, an annual series started by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in 1980.

Mr Rudd, who was on a one-day visit at Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's invitation, pitched his idea for the creation of a new framework of cooperation to cover the Asia-Pacific region that would include the United States, China, Japan and India.

As he did when he first mooted the idea for an Asia-Pacific Community in June, Mr Rudd argued that global power and influence were shifting to the region.

Meeting the challenges that nations face today - be it climate change, international financial turbulance, the threat from terrorism or energy shortages - lies beyond the reach of single nations, he told an audience of government officials, diplomats, academics and others.

He was quick to acknowledge the useful roles that groupings such as Asean, the Asean Regional Forum, the more recently-established East Asia Summit, and long-standing Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum will continue to have.

'Our region has benefited greatly from the regional architecture that has emerged ... These institutions have made, do make and will continue to make a great contribution to our security, stability and prosperity.'

Read the full story in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times.