Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has told a panel of European and Canadian leaders Australia believes its future lies in Asia.
Mr Shorten, attending the Global Progress 2016 conference in Montreal, Canada, on Tuesday also talked up the importance of the equal treatment of women, Australia's frustration with European tax havens and his desire to change tax concessions enjoyed by the wealthy.
"In Australia we see Asia as our future," Mr Shorten said.
"We love Europe, but we see Asia as our future."
We think China is a giant economic machine and it is going to keep generating growth.
"Mr Shorten shared a stage with German Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, Sweden's minister for European Union Affairs and Trade Ann Linde, Greece's Minister of State Nikos Pappas, Leader of the Norwegian Labour Party Jonas Gahr Store and Canada's Minister of International Trade Chrystia Freeland.
The ALP leader said economies will flourish when women receive equal treatment.
"Wherever women have gained access in terms of improvements of health, wherever mothers are treated better, wherever there's improvements in infant mortality, wherever there's greater access to literacy and learning, that generates the wealth of the world," Mr Shorten said.
Mr Shorten said some European countries administer tax havens and "as an Australian, there is a little bit of frustration".
He also aired his desire to go "after the top end tax concessions" enjoyed by Australia's wealthy.
"Not in a sort of a crazy way, but a sensible, balanced way, is one of the ways you can still maintain a proper safety net in a modern nation," he said.
"There's just no choice. We think that's the way to go."
Mr Shorten will travel to Washington DC where he will deliver a speech on Friday at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
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