Rupert Murdoch says the ongoing metamorphosis of China and India from historic backwaters into economic powers will help reshape the world in the next few decades.
He speaks of "the great transformation we've seen in China and India in the past few decades, the unleashing of human talent and ability across our world, and speaks of 'a golden age for humankind that I see just around the corner'.
But we may not be part of it this golden era – Australia may not be prepared for the challenges ahead.
That's a central theme of this year's first Boyer Lecture, the famous annual series of lectures on ABC radio and TV.
He describes China and India as great countries whose people are only recently emerging from long histories of being "incarcerated by communism or caste."
"The rise of their economies is creating a new middle class that will be three billion strong within 30 years and that is setting a new benchmark for global competitiveness."
Australia’s bright future, including expanding demand for our agricultural exports in the years ahead, will be closely tied to these sheer numbers arising from the emergence of India and China as economic powers, creating the rise of a new middle class.
“The world has never seen this kind of advance before," he says.
“These are people who are intent on developing their skills, improving their lives and showing the world what they can do.
“And they live right in Australia's neighbourhood.”
Australia also has another major role to play as it's the leading country for freedom in the area of trade that is most restricted around the world — agriculture.
Mr Murdoch says: “Restrictions on agriculture hurt many of the world's poorest nations, and we have both a moral and strategic interest in seeing them lifted.
“So we must continue to leverage our connections and continue to push when others have left the conference table.
“The global trade dialogue should echo with Australian accents.”
Climate change is another area where Australia needs to lead rather than follow.
“I'm not sold on the more apocalyptic visions of climate change,” he says.
“But I do believe that the planet deserves the benefit of the doubt.
“I believe there will be great rewards for those Australians who discover new ways of reducing emissions or cleaning the environment.”
“Our emphasis (in responding to climate change) should be on practical solutions. We cannot address climate change merely with emotion," he says.
“The ultimate solution is not to punish the Australian economy by imposing standards that the rest of the world will never meet.
“It's to take the lead in developing real alternatives to solve the problem by offering clean, cheap energy to meet the growing demand.
“The world desperately needs these cleaner and more abundant sources of energy.
"That will require huge investments in new technology.
“But the upside is huge. If we can develop cleaner and cheaper sources of energy, we will grow our economy while leaving a greener, cleaner world for our children and grandchildren."
Mr Murdoch speaks too, of the need to reform our education system - that we are spending more and getting less in return.
"For those still in school or just entering the workforce, the opportunities a global economy offers are greater than at any time in our history – provided they have the right skills.
"Australians have always been a people who stress equality, who believe that what you make of yourself is more important than where you came from.
"That's still a good philosophy for a frontier society.
“But let's be honest: Tens of thousands of people are going to be deprived of these opportunities if we continue to tolerate a public education system that effectively writes off whole segments of Australian society.
“In short, we have a 21st century economy with a 19th century education system, and it is leaving too many children behind.
“That is an injustice to these citizens, and it puts a future burden on Australian society."
He'll expand on these strong views about education in a subsequent lecture.
The other talks in the series will be aired in the next five weeks, on Sundays, on the ABC.
Themes will include the future of newspapers, the importance of boosting the Australian education system, the importance of cultivating human capital, the challenge of technology and the rise of the global middle class.
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