Tony Abbott uses address to World Economic Forum in Davos to promote virtues of free trade
发布时间 24 January 2014, 14:06 AEST
Philip Williams and staff
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has called for freer trade and increased global growth at a keynote speech at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.
He told the audience of business and political leaders that stimulating growth through encouraging business was the single most effective means of promoting continued global progress.
Mr Abbott, who is the chair of the G20 this year, said the world was 30 million jobs short of where it was ahead of the global financial crisis.
He said, however, the crisis did not change the laws of economics.
"You can't spend what you haven't got," Mr Abbott told the meeting in Davos.
"No country has ever taxed or subsidised its way to prosperity. You don't address debt and deficit with yet more debt and deficit.
"And profit is not a dirty word, because success in business is something to be proud of."
Mr Abbott said that as a trading nation, Australia would make the most of its G20 presidency to promote free trade.
"People trade with each other because it's in their interests to do so," he said.
"And just as trade within countries increases wealth, trade between countries increases wealth.