China at heart of Australia's Asian Century White Paper

SYDNEY, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) --- Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has finally released the "Australia in the Asian Century" White Paper here Sunday, placing China at the center of Australia' s Asian century.

The long-delayed White Paper lays out an ambitious plan to guarantee Australia can take a hold of the opportunities offered by the Asian century by becoming a more Asia-literate and Asia- capable nation.

The prime minister said that the scale and pace of Asia's rise is staggering, and there are significant opportunities and challenges for all Australians.

"In this century, the region in which we live will become home to most of the world's middle class and will be the world's largest producer of goods and services, and the largest consumer of them."

However, Gillard encouraged Australians to determine their own future and not rely on the fortunes that have made resource-rich Australia an economic success story.

Most viewed commentaries
Will China and US fall into limited confrontation?	China's rise, a major topic for US presidential debate	Japan should treat blue water training of PLA navy rationally
Who is sowing discord between China and India?	Japan's miscalculation in urging US to suppress China	How is China-basing in US presidential race different this time