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up the Opportunities offered by businesses across the region. Just as compelling are the social and cultural benets ofenabling people to communicate with people from other backgrounds. A strong command of language allows listeners to far better understand differences in culture; to understand not just what is said, but why. if we want Australia to have a place at the table in the Asian Century to even understand the opportunities available - we will need to adjust our Asian language competence from a level suitable for backpackers to one that fits the boardroom. While we agree that it would be a good thing for more Australians to speak Mandarin, Hindi or Vietnamese, it is also vital to take a hard—headed look at the reasons behind the low take—up ofsuch languages. Such an analysis should take into account the basic economic principle that acquiring a language is not costless, and recognise that for our nation, Asian language study is an investment in a safer, affluent and more engaged nation. Fourth, we should increase the Asia literacy of our politicians. At the federal level, we can be proud to have some parliamentarians of Asian descent, who speak Asian languages, and who have lived in Asia. But there is more work to be done to ensure that our politicians continue to look like the electorate. Too few members of parliament are absorbed in Asian art and literature, and too few travel regularly in our region. There are plenty of parliamentarians who follow every twist and turn of United States or United Kingdom politics, and but not enough who understand party politics in India and Malaysia. Australia must focus its diplomatic and development capacity on encouraging Asian nations to harness their growth for the benefit of their own populations, the region and the world. Fifth, we should engage our neighbours in trade, aid and diplomacy. As Hugh White’s provocative Quarterly Essay has illustrated, the rise of China creates signicant challenges for Australia. We do not believe that Australia should resile from our deeply-held support for Open markets and open societies. Allowing the Renminbi to rise to an appropriate level would be good for Chinese consumers, as it would increase their buying power and help to curtail domestic inflation. Encouraging China to deliver more of its foreign aid through multilateral institutions would help donor coordination and poverty reduction. Similarly, while the Association of South—East Asian Nations (ASEAN) has built a strong and generally progressive community of nations, its policy of non- intervention in national affairs must not be used as an excuse for social reforms to languish. Australia must focus its diplomatic and development capacity on encouraging Asian nations to harness their growth for the benet of their own populations, the region and the world. Issues in Society I Volume 350 Andrew Leigh is the memberfor Fraser(ACT). Prior to his election in 2010, he was a professor in the Research School of Economics at the Australian National University, and has previously worked as associate to justice Michael Kirby ofthe High Court of/iustralia, a lawyerfor Clifford Chance (London), and a resea rcher for the Progressive Policy Institute (Washington DC). He holds a PhDfrom Harvard University and has published three books and over 50 journal articles. His latest book, ‘Disconnected ’, is published by UNSW Press. Lisa Singh is a Labor Senator for Tasmania. She is the former convenor of the Australian Republican Movement Tasmanian Branch, and was a Tasmanian Government Minister from 2oo8-2oro. This article draws on the author's submission to the Asian Century White Paper, and was originally published in The Canberra Times on 26 April 2012. © 2012 Andrew Leigh and Lisa Singh. Posted 30 April 2012. On Line Opinion I wWW.0nline0pinion.com.au Australia's Engagement with Asia

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  • up the Opportunities offered by businesses across the

    region. Just as compelling are the social and cultural

    benets ofenabling people to communicate with peoplefrom other backgrounds. A strong command of languageallows listeners to far better understand differences inculture; to understand not just what is said, but why.

    if we want Australia to have a place at the table in the

    Asian Century to even understand the opportunities

    available - we will need to adjust our Asian language

    competence from a level suitable for backpackers to one

    that fits the boardroom.While we agree that it would be a good thing for more

    Australians to speak Mandarin, Hindi or Vietnamese, it

    is also vital to take a hardheaded look at the reasonsbehind the low takeup ofsuch languages. Such an analysis

    should take into account the basic economic principle that

    acquiring a language is not costless, and recognise that

    for our nation, Asian language study is an investment in

    a safer, affluent and more engaged nation.Fourth, we should increase the Asia literacy of our

    politicians. At the federal level, we can be proud to have

    some parliamentarians of Asian descent, who speakAsian languages, and who have lived in Asia. But thereis more work to be done to ensure that our politicianscontinue to look like the electorate. Too few membersof parliament are absorbed in Asian art and literature,and too few travel regularly in our region. There areplenty of parliamentarians who follow every twist andturn of United States or United Kingdom politics, and

    but not enough who understand party politics in India

    and Malaysia.

    Australia must focus its diplomatic anddevelopment capacity on encouraging Asian

    nations to harness their growth for the benefit oftheir own populations, the region and the world.

    Fifth, we should engage our neighbours in trade, aid

    and diplomacy. As Hugh Whites provocative QuarterlyEssay has illustrated, the rise of China creates signicantchallenges for Australia. We do not believe that Australiashould resile from our deeply-held support for Openmarkets and open societies. Allowing the Renminbi to

    rise to an appropriate level would be good for Chinese

    consumers, as it would increase their buying power and

    help to curtail domestic inflation. Encouraging China

    to deliver more of its foreign aid through multilateral

    institutions would help donor coordination and poverty

    reduction.Similarly, while the Association of SouthEast Asian

    Nations (ASEAN) has built a strong and generallyprogressive community of nations, its policy of non-

    intervention in national affairs must not be used as an

    excuse for social reforms to languish. Australia must focus

    its diplomatic and development capacity on encouraging

    Asian nations to harness their growth for the benet of

    their own populations, the region and the world.

    Issues in Society I Volume 350

    Andrew Leigh is the memberfor Fraser(ACT). Prior to his

    election in 2010, he was a professor in the Research Schoolof Economics at the Australian National University, andhas previously worked as associate to justice Michael Kirbyofthe High Court of/iustralia, a lawyerfor Clifford Chance(London), and a resea rcherfor the Progressive Policy Institute(Washington DC). He holds a PhDfrom Harvard Universityand has published three books and over 50 journal articles.His latest book, Disconnected , is published by UNSWPress.

    Lisa Singh is a Labor Senator for Tasmania. She is the

    former convenor of the Australian Republican MovementTasmanian Branch, and was a Tasmanian Government

    Minister from 2oo8-2oro.

    This article draws on the author's submission to the

    Asian Century White Paper, and was originally publishedin The Canberra Times on 26 April 2012.

    2012 Andrew Leigh and Lisa Singh. Posted 30 April 2012.On Line Opinion I wWW.0nline0pinion.com.au

    Australia's Engagement with Asia