Should we care about our neighbours in the Asian region? write the authors, who have spent a lifetime in such engagement. This has been called the Asian century and Australia as a western neighbour, is being offered unique opportunities.

More should be made of the many Australian artists who live and work in China, Japan and Indonesia, as well as the companies that tour with Asialink.

In the past connections made through Foreign Affairs and the Australia Council have been subject to the changing policies of successive governments, and subservient to trade promotions and the overriding need for financial return.

The authors outline the way public funding has reflected trade policy over cultural policy and points to the benefits our artists are already bringing us by getting to know our neighbours better