To its eternal shame my country Australia sought to distance itself from Asia for many years preferring to cling to ties with Britain/Europe/the U.S. etc.

However in the last twenty years or so - no doubt with one eye on the economic potential of Asia - Australian leaders have almost fallen over themselves to be included in the Asian "club."

Our biggest trade partners are now in Asia, the Australian football team now plays in the Asian World Cup qualifying competition and Japan just concluded a landmark security treaty with Australia.

So what do you think? Should Australia be considered part of Asia - geographically and economically? Or should it be considered an outsider?