Learning to build bridges between people and nations

Résumé détaillé

Travel can change how people see the world. I am especially interested in educational tourism, also known as research or study tours. Through my work with the World Research…

The Asia-Pacific region faces challenges no nation can tackle alone. Economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, climate change and the rapid advance of artificial intelligence transcend national borders. While countries may not agree on every issue, retreating into isolation is not a viable solution. As our world grows more complex, the need for dialogue and practical cooperation becomes increasingly vital.

Australia has a unique stake in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. In 1989, then Australian prime minister Bob Hawke proposed a new framework for regional economic cooperation, leading to the first APEC ministerial meeting in Canberra that year. His successor Paul Keating championed the idea that the Asia-Pacific was not just a collection of economies engaged in business, but a region capable of fostering a shared sense of purpose. He was instrumental in elevating APEC to the leaders' level in 1993.

Hawke and Keating recognized that regions are not simply defined by geography. They are also shaped by decisions about whom to engage with, what values to uphold, and what kind of future to envision together. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has the opportunity to continue this tradition. In a 2025 lecture on APEC, he explicitly revisited the legacy of both leaders.

However, the optimism surrounding globalization during their era cannot simply be reproduced today. Trade tensions, uneven development, environmental pressures and technological disruption require new forms of cooperation. Institutions must adapt to the current realities without abandoning the principles that give them purpose.

China's theme for APEC 2026 in Shenzhen, "Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together", is especially timely. Its focus on openness, innovation and cooperation offers a useful framework. But it also raises an important question: How can we transform economic interdependence into a genuine sense of community?

While trade and investment are essential, a…

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