Established powers "have to work with" political, economic gravity shifting: Aussie politician

The center of political and economic gravity is shifting away from the West to the East, and established powers "have to work with it," an Australian politician has said.

Former Australian Trade Minister Andrew Robb Thursday told an audience hosted by the Australia- China Relations Institute that "We want peace and stability in the (Asia-Pacific) region, the best thing we can develop (is) trust between all our nations."

Robb, who is retiring from politics at Australia's next election, said the level of contact between Chinese, American and Indian military forces "is remarkable" despite sometimes being delicate with the powers "bumping into one another in a way that they haven't in the last 50 to 100 years."

"I do think tensions can be a bit overrated," he said, but added the relationships have to be managed.

"Once people understand one another, know the different perspectives and have a good sense of where you're all coming from, it makes an enormous difference," Robb said, adding that's how mutual respect and trust are established.

"Once you do that, you're far less likely to involve instability in the region." Endit