''For Australia,the tyranny of distance has given way to the advantage of proximity,''he declared.
Gillard also declared an end to the''tyranny of distance''in her own speech to the Asian Society in 2011,giving prime ministerial voice to the''Asian century''concept and also boasting of Australia's geographic''advantage of adjacency''.
''For Australia,the economic opportunities are how the Asian century begins,''Gillard declared.
Foreign policy is often said to have a bipartisan character but these two speeches in particular bear striking resemblance.
Gillard spoke then of an agenda for free trade agreements''to deepen country-to-country economic ties''.
Abbott said Australia's engagement with North Asian partners is strong''but can yet be deepened''and hopes to witness the signing of a free trade agreement in South Korea.