Australia and China seem to be moving towards further intertwining. Yet do we know China or its people or even more important its leaders or emerging leaders?
Recent announcements by government to promote Australian students studying at Asian institutions is a very important step forward. Asians come here, and we should have some students study in Asia. There are some first class universities across many disciplines, so it makes sense.
But a recent Lowy Institute paper also makes a more compelling case for some further interaction to deepen our understanding of Asia, and particularly China. Language skills is one area where there are some real needs. And today with the Indonesian President in Darwin is a timely teminder that Indonesian language skills are important to meet our next door neighbour on equal terms too. Indonesia seems to have fallen below the vision line.
Read the Lowy Institute article here:
http://www.lowyinstitute.org/publications/australia-china-ties-search-political-trust
Interestingly in this article there are no formal high level links in relation to agriculture. Curious, with all the media attention around Chinese land purchases and their interest in Australian agriculture. Sydney Uni Agriculture Faculty is soon to establish formal relations in China; maybe more should start that process too.
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