This is the text of an Address by Alexander Downer, Minister for Foreign Affairs, to the NSW Division of the Liberal Party, in Sydney.

Downer outlined the government’s approach to foreign policy in its first nine months in office. He talked about Malaysia, multilateral and bilateral relations, trade and immigration.

Text of speech by Foreign Minister Alexander Downer to the NSW Liberal Party.

INTRODUCTION

Many thanks for the invitation to address you today.

I am delighted for the opportunity to speak about Australia’s “place in the world” and our foreign policy priorities.

This Government has a vision for Australia in the 21st century as a cooperative, economically competitive and secure nation, fully engaged with the East Asian region, while maintaining and developing links with countries beyond the region.

When we came into office almost nine months ago, we had a detailed policy, appropriately entitled A Confident Australia, which embodied this vision. [Read more…]