Ageing populations present policy challenges for both Australia and China. The number of Chinese people aged over 60 has reached 202 million, representing 15.5 per cent of the population. This percentage of over 60 year-olds is up from 7 per cent in 1953, and is projected to each 24 per cent (or 302 million people) by 2050. In Australia, it is predicted that 22 per cent of the population will be over 60 years of age by 2017.
Is China’s Periphery Becoming the Core of Its International Relations?
The U.S.-China bilateral relationship is widely regarded by politicians, practitioners, and pundits as the world’s most important. Effectively managing China’s reemergence as a major power in the context of a U.S.-led international order is seen as key to continuing peace and security in the Asia-Pacific. But is working together the best way for China to get what it wants?
China, Australia and the future of climate change
Will the China FTA open doors for Australian architects?
It was announced that a China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (CHAFTA) had finally been reached after more than a decade of negotiations. While most Australian media attention was focused on domestic produce, the CHAFTA also contains two provisions that affect Australian architects, which have been met with cautious optimism.
An opportunity for Australian NGOs in China
How Chinese farmers can reap more than they sow
Is Australia the third wheel in US-China relations?
The Australian Government appeared to have been caught unawares by the recent China-US emissions reduction announcement at APEC, suggesting – unsurprisingly – that the dynamics of US-China relations evolve without Australia. Nevertheless, there is a real, albeit still emerging three-way relationship between Australia, China, and the US, one in which Australia has much more room to direct its own role.
Opinion: Australia-China Sports Relationship - by 2013 Delegates
Opinion: Australia-China Creative Industries - by 2013 Delegates
After an intensive week of seminars, speeches and sessions on issues ranging from security and the environment to global trade and politics, the final topic for discussion at the 2013 Australia-China Youth Dialogue (ACYD) was that of Australia-China creative industries. Speakers included Leslie Always, Greame Lewsey, Paul Lacy, and Michell Guo.
Veronica Walker: Breaking Down Walls
A family holiday at the age of 12 hooked Veronica Walker on all things China. Now almost two decades later, the Asian studies and arts graduate is still peering interestedly into the backyard of the country with the Great Wall.
She’s just returned from the 2013 Australia China Youth Dialogue – an annual conference that promotes engagement between young adults from China and Australia who are interested in strengthening the two countries’ relationship.
As one of two alumni prize recipients selected to attend the conference on behalf of the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific, Veronica had the opportunity to engage with other young professionals on the big issues affecting the Australia-China relationship.
“The Australia China Youth Dialogue really highlighted the fact that there is a strong group of Australian and Chinese individuals with immense goodwill and passion seeking to build greater understanding and deeper relationships between these two countries,” she says.
“The Dialogue covered a range of key issues in the bilateral relationship, from climate change to business engagement. But central to all of these discussions remains the importance of building strong people-to-people links and understanding.”
Veronica’s used to looking at the big picture. It’s something she had to do as part of her previous role as an advisor to the Australia in the Asian Century Implementation Taskforce.
“The Taskforce was a cross-agency team established to support implementation of the former Government's Australia in the Asian Century White Paper,” says Veronica.
“The highlight of this role was having the opportunity to combine my professional role with my interest in China and Australian engagement with Asia. I also enjoyed the opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment with a dynamic team of people from a range of different agencies.”
But for Veronica, it isn’t just policies that will ensure Australia will succeed in the Asian century. It comes down to people, culture and experience. Such a perspective is unsurprising considering Veronica’s experiences in childhood and as a student.
“My father is an academic and growing up we often had international postgraduate students living with our family. Qian, from Yangzhou, stayed with our family for the longest, around 18 months.
“And as an Asian studies student who majored in Mandarin at ANU, I had the opportunity to complete the Year in Asia Program in 2004 – nearly 10 years ago now!
“I studied at the Beijing Language and Culture University and this gave me my first in-depth experience of China and allowed me to put in to practise some of the skills I'd learnt while studying in Canberra.”
For the immediate future Veronica’s gaze has turned to Australia’s own backyard. She has just started a new job with the Australian Government looking at Indigenous economic development.
But with some 20 years of hands-on experience with one of the world’s most dynamic countries, we bet it won’t be long before she is back in China, helping to break down walls.
Veronica Walker completed a combined Bachelor of Asian Studies/ Bachelor of Arts at ANU in 2006.
Featured image by Songquan Deng from flickr.
Source: Australian National University Website, http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/news-events/all-stories/breaking-down-walls#.UluxNGTN9kh