Asia’s Rise: What it Means for Australia Mr John McCarthy, AO, Wednesday 11 May, 2011

You are urged not to miss this opportunity to hear John McCarthy, one of Australia’s most experienced and distinguished former diplomats, on what the rise of Asia means for Australia.

Asia is on the move. China, the world’s second economic power and the world’s largest exporter, continues to grow at 10 per cent a year. Likewise, India is growing at more than 8 per cent and its exports have surged by 50 per cent in the last year. Growth in these two countries, together with others in the region, such as Indonesia, will create a whole new set of economic opportunities for Australian business. It will also raise new geo-political challenges for our place in this new world.

There has been much debate in Australia about the rise of China and India and what this means for the region, and importantly for ourselves. From his unique experience in having served in the United States, Japan, Indonesia and India, Mr McCarthy will give his perspective on how these changes will impact on Australia.

John McCarthy was educated at Cambridge University and practised law in London and New York, before joining the Australian Foreign Service in 1968. He has been Australia’s ambassador to Vietnam, Mexico, Thailand, the United States, Indonesia and Japan, and High Commissioner to India. He has also served as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He became President of the Australian Institute of International Affairs in October 2010.