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Three Law students are steeping themselves in Chinese language and culture in a bid to ensure that the Asian Century becomes a reality in Australia.

The three young men, Neil Thomas, Tom Williams and Elliott Clutterbuck are all living, working and studying in China on or following Prime Minister's Australia Asia Endeavour awards.

Neil and Tom, who started their undergraduate studies on prestigious UWA Fogarty Foundation Scholarships, are both heavily involved in the Australia-China Youth Association (ACYA).

Tom is the National President (Australia) of ACYA  and Neil is the National Publications Director, editing both the AustraliaBites and ChinaBites monthly cultural newsletters. He is also editor of the bilingual ACYA Journal of Australia China Affairs , which this year is being co-published and peer reviewed by the University of Sydney China Studies Centre .

They both take an active role in the Australia-China Youth Dialogue .

This year, Neil is the publications manager and business and trade coordinator  and Tom is logistics coordinator.

"We were hoping to bring the dialogue to UWA in 2013," Neil said.  "But the University couldn't sponsor it this year.  However, the Pro-Vice Chancellor (International) Iain Watt supports us exploring possibilities for the 2015 ACYD being at UWA."

Neil and Tom both write prolifically about Chinese-Australian relationships.  Their recent joint publication in The China Story won the ANU's China in the World Centre's Australia China Agenda New Voice Competition. Australia Dreaming: Visions of a New China Relationship urges a China-cognisant national political consciousness.

In another article , on the ABC site The Drum , Neil asks whether the Asia White Paper will become a white elephant.

"There is now bipartisan acknowledgment that Australia in increasingly economically, diplomatically and strategically reliant on Asia, and China in particular," he wrote.

"Understanding the cultures and speaking the languages of Asia is key to ensuring Australia's long-term economic success."

Julia Gillard's White Paper released a year ago boldly recommended that Australian schoolchildren be offered continuous education in one of four priority Asian languages: Mandarin, Hindi, Japanese and Indonesian. It proposed aspirational targets for a third of business directors and senior public servants to possess "deep experience in and knowledge of Asia" by 2025.

These three outstanding young men are spearheading a movement that they hope will see those recommendations realised.

Tom is proficient in Mandarin, having won several national and international prizes while completing his BA with first class Honours in Asian Studies at UWA and Peking University on his Endeavour Award. He is now studying Law.

Neil is completing his BA Honours at Tsinghua University and is a research intern with the Australian Studies Centre at Peking University.

Elliott is taking intensive Mandarin language classes and studying Chinese Law at Tsinghua University, spending one day each week as an intern at the Beijing Office of Zhong Yin Law Firm, a major Chinese law office.  On completion of his studies, he will take on a further internship with an internationally renowned law firm's Beijing Office.

Elliott also holds an Elite Athlete Sport Scholarship at UWA and has received a Full Blue for his sporting achievements in badminton, one of China's national sports.  He represented Australia at the 2012 World University Badminton Championships in South Korea.

The Prime Minister's Australia Asia Awards aim to develop internationally aware, skilled future leaders and to establish enduring education and professional linkages between Australia and Asia.