I am delighted to have been asked to contribute the foreword for this Commemorative Album of the 14th Asian Shipowners Forum, being held in Sanctuary Cove, Queensland.

Let me take this opportunity to welcome to Australia all the distinguished attendees to this most important gathering of the Asian region's shipping leaders. I trust that you will enjoy your stay and that your deliberations will be productive.

Australia, which has the world's fifth largest shipping task, fully recognises the vital importance of the services provided by the international shipping industry to carry our exports to world markets and to bring the imports needed to satisfy our domestic markets. Increasingly these international carrying services are provided by shipowners based in the Asian region.

The Asian region has long been important in Australia's international trading performance, and becomes more important every year. Three of Australia's top six trading partners are in the Asian region. More than three-quarters of the tonnage of Australia's seaborne exports is destined for the Asian region.

Asian shipowners operate around half of the world shipping tonnage, Asia supplies most of today's seafarers, and Asian shipyards build much of the world's new shipping. The Asian Shipowners Forum rightly seeks to develop and provide to world shipping forums a consolidated, consensual view on the issues facing commercial shipping today.

The international shipping industry faces many challenges in providing safe, secure and environmentally friendly shipping services for world trade. The Asian Shipowners Forum has a fine record of engaging, including through its various standing committees, with issues such as maritime safety, shipping and the marine environment, maritime security, the promotion of the employment of Asian seafarers, and ship recycling.

I commend the role of the Asian Shipowners Forum in promoting cooperation among Asian shipping enterprises and consolidating their views on the issues confronting shipping.

I congratulate the Australian Shipowners Association for hosting this important gathering. Best wishes for a successful Forum meeting.