HUA HIN, Thailand: China and the US want to be parties to any new regional international forum on security, economy and politics, but Australia's proposal for an Asia-Pacific community may be superseded by a Japanese proposal for an East Asian community that could involve a European Union-style common currency.
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China and the US were initially reluctant to support a plan for another international forum for the region, but now back the concept.
China had argued that the time was wrong as economies around the world dragged themselves out of the global economic crisis. But it has thrown its weight behind the proposal of the Japanese Prime Minister, Yukio Hatoyama.
"We believe that to establish an East Asian community is the future direction of promoting East Asian co-operation - it is the trend," the Chinese assistant Foreign Minister, Hu Zhengyue, said.
Washington has indicated it supports the concept of a new international body, but has not committed to either Japan's or Australia's framework.
A US assistant secretary of state, Kurt Campbell, who only months ago dismissed Australia's proposal as unworkable, said that while Washington's focus in the immediate future was the Group of 20, it would be a significant player in the formation of any new body.
"I just want to assure you … the United States is going to be part of this party. We are an active player and we're going to want an invitation as well."
The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, first floated the idea of an Asia-Pacific community in June last year, to a poor response domestically and across the region. But support has been growing in recent months.
His proposed forum would involve the nations of Asia, the Pacific and the US, with a broad mandate to deal with issues of security, politics and economy.
He used the occasion of the East Asia Summit, held in the Thai beachside town of Hua Hin yesterday, to promote his idea to the leaders of 16 nations from across the region.
Mr Rudd said he detected "an openness to a discussion" across the region about a new body and what form it might take.
"Everyone's going to have a different view about what shape it should have and over what period of time. That's good."
Indonesia and Thailand have expressed interest in Australia's proposal. The Secretary-General of the Association of South-East Asian Nations, Surin Pitsuwan, has said regional leaders are open to further discussions.
