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| Speech by the Hon Duncan Kerr SC MP at the China-Pacific Island Countries Investment, Trade and Tourism.Ministerial Conference |
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| 2008-10-17 10:06 mofcom |
Introdction
Ladies and gentlemen,thank you for this opportunity to make a few remarks at today's forum.
It's a pleasure to be here in Xiamen.I would especially like to thank Commerce Minister Chen and our Chinese hosts for organising this important event.
Australia welcomes the increasingly important role China is playing in the paciEc-a role which makes this Fomm so timely.
The Australian Government came to power last year determined bring a new revitalised approach to our relations with our Pacific neighbours.
We have since pursued m ambitious and co-operative agenda based on mutual respect,mutual responsibility and mutuai commitment to building a better alture for the Pacific
Australia attaches great importance to the need to go beyond traditional modes ofdevelopment assistance in the Pacifk We need to widen our discussion with our Pacme parmers to involve trade and economic cooperation.
In framirlg our interaction with the Pacific we are keenly aware of the need for a collaborative approach.We work closely with our New Zealand friends,and with leading international finaneial institutions such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.We already have productive dialogue on paciflc issues with a range ofother countries,including our hosts China which is also a Paciac Forum Dialogue Partner.
Every country represented at today's forum shares m interest in ensuring that Paciflc island countries adapt to the challenges of a globalised economy.
We believe that the more the Pacific nations become integrated with the wider global community,and the freer the flow of goods,services and investments within the Pacific,the better will be prospects for genuine,stable and long-term economic growth in the region.While trade reform will have major beneflts for PacifIc islands nations,there may be some adjustment costs and Australia stands ready to work with countries to address these.
china's increased engagement in the region is a key and welcome development in expanding trade oppodunities and improving links with the global economy.
Australia has a flourishing trade relationship with China and we look forward to encouraging and assisting Pacific countries to form similar relationships.
Economic development in Paciflc island countries would also be substantially boosted by taking forward negotiations for a regional free trade agreement -the so-called ‘PACER Plus' arrangement,which by Pacik Island Forum leaders recently endorsed at their annual summit held this year in Niue.
Enhanced liberalisation of trade throws up some challenges but the benefits wili far outweigh the costs.For example,Paciflc island countries have already reaped the benefits of aviation deregulation for tourism and deregulation of telecommunications is bringing down the costs of mobile telephony and opening up possibilities for improved services and other oppodunities never before thought possible.
Another area in which Australia has been active is h increasing labour mobility in the region.We recently announced a three- year Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme which we want to succeed because it will aid the development of island states through employment experience,earnings and training oppodunities for their unemployed youth.
As part ofour new approach to the Paciflc we have moved to establish a series of Pacih Partnerships to support our neid1bours meeting their Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
Pacinc Partnerships recognise and support priorities identiaed by Pacific countries themselves.They will strengthen both economic performance and goven1ance frameworks needed to achieve these goals.Prime Minister Rudd signed the first two of these agreements with his counterparts from Papua New Guinea and Samoa at the Niue Leaders,meeting.
In this context,we encourage a11 donors in the Pacific to recognise the value of working cooperatively to maximise the beneflts of our aid efforts.We must be willing as responsible donors to measure the efectiveness ofour effbrts and whether they are sustainable.Achieving sustainability in what we do cannot be an aspiration,but be a real measure ofhow we deEne success.Capacity and absorptive constraints are real and acknowledged challenges within our region.As responsible donors we should commit to maximize the benegt o four collective investments by identifying and building on capacities where needed.
Only by sharing information and strategies on aid accountability and effectiveness can we ensure that our efforts deliver the best outcomes for Pacme countries.
Australia has also been active in coliaboration with Pacific island countries on wider global challenges,notably Climate Change.We are pleased that the Niue Forum adopted a declaration on this suhject.Australia is also providing assistance to regional countries h this field,notably signifleant assistance for adaptation initiatives.
Ladies and gentlemen,Australia is committed to being a responsible paItner in building a better fture for the nations and people of the Pacific.
I welcome the opportunity this Forum gives us to expiore how we can work together through investment,trade and tourism to realise that future. |
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