CANBERRA, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Australia must play an active role in shaping the century of the Asia-Pacific by developing a culture of cooperation with regional giants like China, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said here on Monday.

    The Olympic Games had been the opening act of what he calls the great unfolding drama of the 21st century, he told reporters.

    "One of the big driving forces in the century of the Asia-Pacific is the future of China, not just its economy but also its international political personality," he said, adding that this would be a challenge and an opportunity for all nations to engage.

    "The big challenge for Australia is not to just allow this century to unfold as if we're just passive bystanders but to actually shape the century."

    "That means when you've got large new emerging economies and foreign policy and security policy players like China how do we fashion actively a culture of cooperation and the habits of cooperation between major countries and economies of the region," he said.