28 October 2012: The Australia-China Youth Association (ACYA) Group has welcomed the Australian Government’s Australia in the Asian Century White Paper and its acknowledgment of the pivotal role Asia will play in Australia’s future.
As a youth-based organisation making an active contribution to Australia-China relations, ACYA Group applauds the White Paper’s focus on education, building an Asia-capable workforce and developing close people-to-people relations with our partners across the region.
“It’s fantastic to see the Federal Government addressing the core areas of education and people-to-people links, which ACYA Group has had a pioneering hand in fostering since its inception in 2009,” said Jeff Sheehy, ACYA’s National President, Australia.
ACYA Group particularly welcomes the White Paper’s objectives of offering every Australian student significant exposure to Asian studies across the curriculum and the opportunity to continuously study an Asian language.
Through the Engaging China Project, ACYA Group is already working in high schools across the country to increase 40,000 high school students’ awareness of China by 2014.
In addition, ACYA Group applauds the White Paper’s call for Australian universities to increase the number of students undertaking Asian studies, establish a presence and exchange programs in Asia, and welcome Asia's top students and leaders to our shores under the proposed 'Australia Awards' scheme to develop long-lasting personal, educational, research and professional links.
ACYA currently has chapters in 11 Australian universities and 3 regional chapters in China, providing a support network for Australian and Chinese students and facilitating personal and cultural exchanges.
“We’re also glad to see that Australian decision makers across the board will be encouraged to gain deeper knowledge and expertise of the countries and issues important to our region,” Mr. Sheehy added.
“This is something we’re already doing through the Australia-China Young Professionals Initiative, which provides a platform for young professionals to engage with business and policy leaders to deepen their understanding of Australia-China relations.”
Finally, ACYA Group is proud to support the White Paper’s vision for an Australia with meaningful people-to-people links with Asian nations.
ACYA Group recently hosted the third annual Australia-China Youth Dialogue from October 19-24 in Beijing and Chengdu, bringing together 30 future leaders from Australia and China to celebrate 40 years of Sino-Australian diplomatic relations and discuss all aspects of the bilateral relationship. The fourth Dialogue will be held next year in Canberra and Perth.
With memberships consisting of students and young professionals with strong Asia capabilities, ACYA Group’s initiatives are uniquely placed to continue advancing the objectives of the White Paper on Australia in the Asian Century in the years ahead.
ACYA Group will seize on the impetus provided by the White Paper’s release to forge ahead in further extending its networks and collaborative efforts in Australia and abroad for the benefit of these welcome objectives.
About ACYA Group:
ACYA Group encompasses the Australia-China Youth Association, Engaging China Project, Australia-China Young Professionals Initiative and the Australia-China Youth Dialogue. All of these initiatives aim to facilitate and strengthen meaningful engagement between young people from Australia and China between the ages of 13 and 35.
For more information, please visit http://acya.org.au/index.php/en/acya-group
Media Enquiries
For media enquiries, please contact:
China
Dominic Meagher dominic.meagher@acya.org.au (+86) 135 5257 5701
Australia
Natalie Cope natalie.cope@acya.org.au (+61) 0423 267 607