Rise of China can benefit world: Kevin Rudd

CHICAGO - China and the world community have opportunities to work together on a variety of global issues, former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said in Chicago Thursday, adding that giving China a greater voice in the international system could also help ensure greater international stability.

"I believe we can embrace the rise of China in a manner that is good for China, good for the United States, good for the West, and good for the rest as well," Rudd said, speaking at a talk for the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

"There is a great opportunity to work now with our Chinese friends on how we might collectively shape our regional and global collective futures together," he continued, expanding on some of the challenges currently facing countries today.

According to Rudd, the world faces three dominant issues in the near future: financial stability in the aftermath of the financial crisis; global sustainable development and climate change; and the rapid development of China as a global economic leader.

Far from being separate, Rudd said the issues actually had many overlapping qualities, and that it was in all countries'self- interest to work together to ensure world peace and stability. China, furthermore, had grown in such a way the country could possibly add a unique voice to the global debate.

As one of the world's largest creditors and the second largest economy, China, Rudd argued, could play a major role as the international system struggles to deal with the effects of the European Financial Crisis. Similarly, as a country already well- experienced with the dangers of air pollution and carbon emissions, China could help promote the importance of a global climate change agenda.

Rudd said that giving China a greater international voice on such issues was not only advisable, but should now be expected given the country's status as a major economic power.

"The international community must accept that it's entirely legitimate for China to have a louder voice at the global negotiating table," Rudd said, adding that the international system should be based on universal values and normative codes, rather than the interests of a particular group of states.

Rudd believed that by appealing to these universal values and issues of global concern, countries could openly and candidly work with China to meet the challenges of a changing world.

In addition to serving as prime minister of Australia from 2007-2010, Rudd has also held the position of Australian foreign minister. He speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese, and has visited China almost 100 times in 30 years.