'First, we should focus on the opportunities, not the threats. Straightforward trade theory tells us that Australia will be most prosperous if we focus on our comparative advantage – the things we do better than other nations. This means that as the outputs of other countries change, it will invariably affect our comparative advantage".

By your statement, does that mean we just accept the high dollar, move more resources to mining, allow more foreign workers to come in, increase the current proportion of foreign doctors working here from i in 4 or 5, increase further foreign ownership of Aust assets, rely more on Chinese and Indian foreign students, rely more on public services, accept no car industry, rely more on foreign fruit and vegies, keep putting our faith in the stockmarket, accept becoming an Asian country, and so on ...

I dont mind you saying this, but please elaborate why this faith is justified. In other words, you might weant to produce a less feel-good article (or whatever) which draws attention to possible consequences. Go on, have a go to help inform the public.

…Yes, there is a great place for the thoughts of progressive political thinkers; mostly among the seven million Australians “Anglicare” have announced today as being unable to pay the rent! Unpopular suggestions that more Asian immigration is inevitable, and Australians should aspire as a nation, to fill the service needs of the ever growing Chinese middle class as our new aspiration, are laughable.

...Ever-growing numbers of Australians are suffering reductions in financial ability to meet every-day needs while the Andrew Leighs of the disconnected Labor party, play silly little disconnected games in the back-rooms of Parliament, and concoct the unbelievable nonsense suggested here, that we should clone ourselves to the ever growing influence of a Chinaman.

...What do Bob Katter and Pauline Hanson say?

The Asian Century needs to become an Australian Asian Century. Australia can re-position itself to meet the opportunities and challenges in our region.

The authors have made sensible suggestions on how Australia can migrate to such a positive future.

It is disturbing to note that the Treasurer Wayne Swan is planning to cut government expenditure across programs in education, international affairs, public diplomacy and international development assistance and aid just to make the budget look better.

Such actions will undermine our chances of benefiting from the economic, democratic and cultural boom in our region

Asian literacy is crucial and we need more inputs from various social institutions to create this important awareness among young Australians. Without such profound understanding, the Asian century is just another jargon.

One can agree in principle with most of the article, which simply states some unavoidable if less than palatable facts. However, I don't see a truly egalitarian Australia accepting a servile role, with regard to much larger, more powerful neighbours.
We simply can't put all of our future eggs in the Chinese economic basket; least we become a poor relative, or semi-dependant southern state; bereft of any real independence or choice?
One notes the quite massive military build up and modernisation taking place on mainland China, the annexation of other nation states, the growth of influence in very poor but resource rich African nations, and the quite deplorable human rights record; or rule of law, which seems to not apply to the ruling elite?
Moreover, we need to understand that the Chinese economy is an aging one; meaning, demand for our resources can only decline, with an aging population?
We need to shift our focus to an equally populous India, whose younger middle class customer base can only grow? India already has a larger middle class than the USA and a growing demand driven economy.
India, like us is a democracy, where the rule of law applies to all, even the rich and powerful?
India has English as their second language, which is the language of commerce and science.
We confront a future where we can compete in those things we already do well and energy dependant high tech manufacture.
We need to massively reform and simplify our tax system and trade practices act. We need to reverse the trend for Corporate Australia to migrate offshore!
After all, 40-50% of something is a whole lot better than 100% of the nothing we get now? This almost endless trend exacerbates forgone tax and profit recirculation? And if effectively reversed, would ensure every dollar of profit circulates and or percolates back through and through a modern western style economy, where it does around 7 dollars worth of work.
And wouldn't that make a nice change from the current experience? Rhrosty.

Jo Coghlan said;
>As the only Anglo-Celtic country in the Asian region,

Errr, Australia is NOT in the Asian region.
Like me you no doubt went to school with a Mercador's projection world
map on the wall. It gives an entirely erroneous vision of the world.
Most people are shocked when I point out that Beijing is closer to
Europe than we are to Asia.
Mercador is used because it is a useful way of showing a sphere on a
flat surface, but does produce a very distorted view of the world.