Australia keen to revive 4 country forum

Australia could be keen for a new diplomatic forum with Japan, India, and the United States.

Australia could be keen for a new diplomatic forum with Japan, India, and the United States. (AAP)

Defence Minister Marise Payne has hinted the federal government could be interested in reviving a forum of some type between Australia, Japan, India, and the US.

Australia withdrew from a four-country security dialogue in 2008 under then prime minister Kevin Rudd, who feared the grouping would upset Beijing.

"Australia is very interested... what form that may take is a matter of discussion," Senator Payne told reporters in Tokyo on Thursday.