Asia Society Breakfast

It is a pleasure to join you today.

This is the first engagement of my Official Visit, which will focus on exploring opportunities for greater collaboration and investment with Victoria’s international partners.

Institutions such as the Asia Society play a vital role in facilitating these conversations.

I’m pleased to be here today to continue the Society’s proud tradition of cross-cultural exchange.

Victoria has always been a place of cultural diversity.

And we have always prospered as a State from being open to the new people and new ideas that this diversity brings.

Almost half of Victorians were either born overseas or have a parent born overseas – and people with Asian ancestry account for more than 15 per cent of our population.

Of course, our ties with this region go further than the presence of diasporas in Victoria – encompassing everything from education and business to policy and the arts.

Our diversity at home has spawned a genuine desire to look outwards, to connect and collaborate with our partners abroad.

There is no better time to be doing so.

And there is no better place for Victorians to look to than to our partners in Asia.

The Honourable Dr Kevin Rudd put it well when he said of Australia that:

“…for the first time in the settled history of [our] continent, we find ourselves in the region that will be at the centre of global affairs.”

He spoke those words back in 2008 as Prime Minister, in an address to this Society that he now heads as its President and CEO.

He has been proven to be right about the shifting of global economic and strategic weight to Asia.

And Victoria has been acutely aware of the opportunities in the ‘Asia Pacific century’ of which Dr Rudd spoke in that speech.

Our network of 24 Trade and Investment Offices around the world – including here in Hong Kong since 1990 – are evidence of that.

More than half of those offices are in Asia – testament to the importance of our partnerships with this region.

We are proud of our global reputation as ‘The Education State’ – thanks in no small part to the large numbers of international students we host…

…the quality and range of our institutions…

…and the ways in which they engage internationally.

But we are equally as proud of our growing reputation in other sectors – food and fibre, medtech and sustainable energy, to name but a few.

All these strengths have benefitted from the great diversity that exists in our State.

And their future growth is deeply tied to our partnerships in this region.

In an increasingly globalised world, informed conversations about common challenges and opportunities are more important than ever.

Due to the diversity of our geography, people and industry – Victoria is well placed to adapt to changing circumstances, navigate these challenges and grasp those opportunities.

We are always looking for partners to join us in pursuing better futures.

Forums such as those hosted by the Asia Society are vital for building understanding and collaboration across borders.

I am grateful for your hosting of this event today – I look forward to speaking with you about opportunities for greater international engagement.

Thank you.