Kevin Rudd has surfaced on the international scene – this time in Russia's far east, at the centre of a high-level event with the leaders of that country, Japan and South Korea.

The former Australian prime minister, who is president of the Asia Society Policy Institute, moderated speeches given by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Park Geun-hye at the Eastern Economic Forum in the Russian city of Vladivostok on Saturday.

Kevin Rudd listens as Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks in Vladivostok. Next to Mr Rudd sits South Korean President Park Geun-hye.and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Credit:Twitter

Mr Rudd's appearance comes weeks after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull ruled out supporting him in his bid to become United Nations secretary-general. Despite the setback, Mr Rudd remains a sought-after voice on Asia-Pacific affairs abroad.

The event in Vladivostok, designed to increase trade and build up Russia's sparsely populated far east, had "regional security questions" prominently on the agenda, Mr Rudd said in a video posted to his Twitter feed afterwards.