It's a pleasure to take part in this debate. I think it's an important subject and I do commend the Government for at least developing an international strategy. It's taken a while, but I do think it should be a very core part of the Welsh Government's activities and we should spend time reflecting on it and suggesting areas where it can be improved.

I just want to talk about a couple of things that I think need to be worked on and emphasised, and the Welsh diaspora out there is something I'm pleased to see recognised in the international strategy. It's been a long time a coming I think. I remember about 10 years ago, when I was a member of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, we met in Glasgow and the Scots were really making some progress on their 'Scotland abroad' and using their network of friends and all the people really who had some form of Scottish heritage around the world. And of course, they were taking what Ireland has done naturally really, I suppose, the last century and a half, as a great inspiration—not something that could be matched necessarily. But nor should it stop us developing that type of approach, and I think they've had some successes in Scotland with that. And we should do the same. There's an awful lot of goodwill out there; there are many people who have connections to Wales, as well as people who were born in Wales and have made hugely successful careers around the world. And I believe they're just waiting really to offer something back, and I think that's very, very important.

I think key also to what we want to do, and it's linked to this first point, is promoting the public and international understanding of Welsh history and culture. We have a great history and culture. It's really one of the foundation stones, I think, of European culture, particularly the language, and it flourishes to this day. I remember when I visited the British Museum's exhibition on the Celtic civilisation, and it ended 200 or 300 years too early it seemed to me, because the Celtic civilisation still flourishes: we see it in the eisteddfod; we see it in our school policy to encourage Welsh-medium education; we see it in the aim to have 1 million Welsh speakers and we see it in the Mabinogion—there has been yet another magnificent translation in the last few years into English. So, we have many, many things. So, if we're looking at Scotland and Ireland, we are not poverty stricken with the sort of offer we can make.

And here I would also say: I think we've got to remind the people of the world that our built environment, particularly stretching back to the castles of the Edwardian era are, for good or ill, the finest examples of military technology in the thirteenth century. And it was as significant at the time, I think, as the invention of the aircraft carrier or the stealth bomber or something. It was really an astonishing breakthrough to have these fortress castles, manned only by about 40 people or so, being able to dominate the area around them. Now we know what impact that had on our political development and options, but it is in the inheritance that we've received, and it's an important example of what has happened and the experience of mankind and its development, which occurred in that area of military castles here. And it's no better seen anywhere else—nowhere in the world matches us.

The final bit I want to say is: there are some great figures in Welsh history that are often more appreciated abroad than they are here. And I am delighted in this regard to mention Evan Roberts, the evangelist of the great 1904 revival. And can I commend my colleague Darren Millar, who has done so much with the Evan Roberts Institute to remind the people of Wales of this great contribution to Christian thought? And he's often more known in North America or in many parts of Asia: Korea, Singapore—these places. And I'm particularly delighted that there's a new edition of the sayings of Evan Roberts, updated and gathered, I understand, by our colleague Darren here, and they are full of amazing proverbs of great insight and Christian piety, and I'll just read one: 

'The Christian's life is not a grave, it's a fair garden, even if there are weeds aplenty.'

And I think Evan Roberts, and many others, are great figures in Welsh history that still have a mission around the world and we should use it to promote our international strategy.