The hubbub following the Asean summit in Vientianne, Laos, last December was really frothing over the cups of the region’s leaders and of those who were invited to the party.

Australian premier John Howard beamed as Laotian artistes banged out the populist Aussie tune Waltzing Maltilda. And a waltzing Matilda it turned out to be – in more ways than one.

This year, Australia will push forth with its stepped-up agenda to ‘integrate’ with the Asian economies, particularly Asean.

This move comes years after Howard, on winning power in 1996, stepped well away from the previous Labor government’s affinity for Asia. Instead, he has worked tirelessly to forge a heightened relationship with the United States – steeped in renewing the Anzus Treaty, which had been flagging under Labor.