[lg policy] Indonesia applauds Australia's Asian Century policy

[Harold Schiffman]

Indonesia applauds Asian Century policy

Date
    October 30, 2012

Michael Bachelard, Jakarta

    i

THE Asian Century white paper's focus on language studies and
people-to-people links has been warmly welcomed in Jakarta, despite a
view that the policy simply mimics the US's ''pivot to Asia''.

Daniel Sparingga, a political sociologist and aide to President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono, described the Gillard government's policy as ''a
very strategic move''.

''It will bring Indonesia and Australia even closer to a point where
our given differences will no longer stand in the way of our thriving
relations,'' he told The Age.

''Our co-operation should not be limited to government-to-government
relations. I commend and applaud the Australian government for their
initiative in engaging Australian universities and businesses to
propel our bilateral relations forward.''
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He thought Dr Yudhoyono would regard it as a ''revitalising force for
the two nations to grow together''.

The white paper focused strongly on Indonesia - there will be a new
Australian consulate, an ambassador to ASEAN to be based in Jakarta,
1000 extra work and holiday visa places and Indonesian language study
for Australian students.

Stories about the policy led the front page of both Jakarta's
English-language dailies and received attention in China too.

Several Chinese state media outlets ran short reports on the white
paper, broadly supportive, while the website of China Radio
International reported that Canberra had acknowledged that it was
''impractical'' to stop China's military growth.

The Jakarta Post quoted a University of Indonesia academic, Makmur
Keliat, saying the policy was not independent but ''closely aligned
with US policy as part of developing a regional security
architecture''.

The newspaper also pointed out that the ''pivot evoked the efforts of
previous prime ministers, notably Bob Hawke and Paul Keating''.

That chimes with Treasurer Wayne Swan, who will tell a high-level
Chinese delegation today that the Asian paper aims to emulate ''some
of the foresight of Chinese and Australian leaders past''.

In an address to the China Advanced Leadership Program, Mr Swan will
stress that for Australia to create deeper connections with Asia, ''we
must broaden the flow of ideas''.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/indonesia-applauds-asian-century-policy-20121029-28fny.html#ixzz2AnHMa900



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