PM launches Asia policy blueprint

28 Oct 2012, 2:55 pm   -   Source: AAP
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has launched the government's long-awaited Asian century white paper. (AAP)

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has launched the government's long-awaited Asian century white paper. (AAP)

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has launched the government's long-awaited Asian century white paper.

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Asia's rise is unstoppable and gathering pace and Australia must have a plan to capitalise on it, Prime Minister Julia Gillard says.

Launching the government's long-awaited Asian century white paper on Sunday, Ms Gillard said Asia's return to global economic and political pre-eminence was on the way.

"This is not only unstoppable, it is gathering pace," she said in a speech to the Lowy Institute think tank in Sydney.

Asia will be home to most of the world's middle class by as early as 2025, she said.

"This is good news for Australia and it should drive a profound change in our thinking about our economic relationship with Asia," Ms Gillard said.

But the opportunity posed by this middle-class boom would not "fall into our laps".

"The world will still be a competitive one where we must make our own living and our own way," the prime minister said.

"But with the right plan, we can make the new middle-class Asia a new market for a high-wage, high-skill Australia."

Ms Gillard said Asia was not a threat to Australia's high-skill, high-wage road.

"It is a reason to stay on it," she said.

Australia's challenge was to ensure Australian workers received the benefits.

"Success in this century will be hard fought and hard won. We must have a clear plan to shape our future," she said.

Ms Gillard outlined the nation's objectives for 2025 and the pathways across five key action areas.

These include boosting Australia's economic strength, building its capabilities and knowledge of Asia, better integration with Asian markets, building security in the region and deeper relationships with the region's most important countries.

All Australian schools will engage with at least one school in Asia to support the teaching of a priority Asian language: Mandarin, Hindi, Indonesian or Japanese, Ms Gillard said.

The government will provide 12,000 Australia Awards to Asian nations over the next five years to promote people-to-people links between Australia and the region.

It will support business missions through an Asian century business engagement plan led by Trade Minister Craig Emerson.

Australia will make it easier for low-risk people to visit and encourage more tourists from China and other key Asian markets.

"These are important, immediate steps for

government," Ms Gillard said.

"They are the beginning for our long-term national plan."

Ms Gillard described the white paper as a "plan for national success" that will involve governments at all levels, business, unions and the broader community.

"We can only win in this century if every sector of our economy is dynamic, productive, engaged," she said.

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