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Remarks by HE Ambassador Wang Xiaolong at the 79th Annual Conference of New Zealand Chinese Association
2022-06-20 08:14

Dear Ms. Jenny Too, NZCA National President

Members of NZCA

Distiguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon! 

Kia ora! 大家下午好!


It gives me great pleasure to attend the 79th Annual Conference of NZCA. I would like to begin by extending my warmest congratulations on the convening of the annual conference. I shall especially express  appreciation for what all of you have done over the years to support the Chinese community here in NZ and advance the China-New Zealand friendship.

Although it’s barely half a year since my arrival as ambassador to NZ, I am deeply touched by what I have learnt in that short time about the history of the Chinese diaspora in this country. My trip to the South Island last month took me to Arrowtown to see the sites where the Chinese gold miners worked and lived, who came to NZ in the 1860s and 70s. Over the past one and half century, generations of Chinese immigrants and their descendants have deeply integrated into local communities. One indicator, I have been advised, is the fact that they enjoy the highest employment rate among all expat communities in New Zealand. In addition, numerous outstanding representatives have emerged from the Chinese community here in NZ in various fields, such as government, business, education, media and so on. Those of you present here today come from different walks of life with different experiences and success stories. Yet, to my observation, you all have at least one common denominator. That is the diligence and wisdom of the Chinese people, which has helped you realize your dreams, although in your own different ways. As you have become part of the local community, you have contributed your share to the development of the local economy and social progress in New Zealand and played your part in building bridges and promoting the friendship between China and New Zealand. As a result, the Chinese community and Chinese culture have become an essential part of New Zealand’s multicutural mosaic. 

I shall also recognize the role played by the NZCA in advancing unity and mutual assistance among the members of the Chinese community in New Zealand. The Association was born in 1935, to raise funds to support the motherland in the fight against the Japanese invaders.  Its mission has since evolved over the past 87 years. But one overarching theme has been the promotion of the Chinese culture and language, assistance to the Chinese diaspora to integrate with the local community, and enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries and peoples. For that reason, please accept my sincere appreciation and thanks for your contribution to connecting the two peoples and sustaining the development of the broadening and deepening ties between the two countries.

Over the years, the Chinese diaspora, whether as first or second generation immigrants or having been overseas for many generations, have supported the development of the motherland, promoted its reunification, `and disseminated the Chinese culture. In many ways, you have become the best ambassadors there could be both ways. In particular, it is through you, from who you are, that many kiwis get to know about China, Chinese people and Chinese culture. 

I am aware that many of you follow with intense interest the development of China. As you may be aware, despite the headwinds from Covid-19 and changes in the global geopolitical and economic landscape, the Chinese economy has continued to grow robustly over the past years, registering one of the highest growth rates and at the same time the lowest inflation among the major economies of the world. 

There might be ups and downs in the short and medium term. Over the long run, however, the fundamentals of the Chinese economy, and the drivers that underpin its potential, resilience and sustainability, remain unchanged.

More importantly, China’s unswerving commitment to reform and opening up remains unchanged. If anything, we shall only accelerate and deepen the reform of the domestic economy and open our door wider to the rest of the world, through high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, through support for a stronger multilateral trading system, and through the development of high-standard FTA networks.

One case in point is the RCEP, to which both China and New Zealand are parties, and which officially came into effect on 1 January this year. Another pertinent example is the upgrade of the FTA between NZ and China. Both promise to open up new opportunities for trade and investment between our two countries to grow further. China is also seeking to join the CPTPP and the DEPA for deeper and closer integration into the regional and global economy for mutual benefits and win-win results.

The strong momentum of growth in China has injected, and will continue to inject impetus into the development of China-New Zealand relations, bringing tangible and material benefits to both sides, particularly both peoples. In 2021, New Zealand’s two-way trade with China rebounded strongly after a small decline in 2020, continuing the overall upward trend of exponential growth in bilateral trade since the signing of the China-NZ FTA in 2008, taking the bilateral trade volume to a new high of 37.7 billion dollars. In the words of a recent NZCC report, trade with China played a significant role in cushioning the impact of Covid-19 and pulling the NZ economy through the pandemic.  

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-New Zealand diplomatic ties, which is not only a significant milestone, but also an important opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made together and chart the course for the future.  

Last November, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Ardern had a phone conversation when they reached broad consensus on giving increasing substance to China-New Zealand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, building on the many firsts we have created together and taking the Partnership to the next level. 

To achieve that goal, we need to focus on building up the substance of common interests between us. No less important is the need to tell the story about how the relationship has evolved as a result of hard work on both sides, and how it has benefited both countries, particularly both peoples, to help the public in both countries to see things as they are, through the veil or smog of mis, or sometimes, deliberate dis-information.

On the other side of the coin would be how we approach the differences that exist between the two countries, due to the discrepancies in political systems, cultural and historical backgrounds, and stages of development, so that they are not blown out of proportions or, in the words of PM Ardern, allowed to define the relationship. After all, our common interests far exceed our differences. 

As far as China is concerned, the way to manage these differences constructively is through dialogues and consultations on the basis of mutual respect, mutual understanding and non-interference in each other’s affairs. Both NZ and China have a valued and proud tradition of independence, neither would like to be told by others what to do or what not to do. 

In other words, we believe that as long as the two sides abide by the spirit of mutual respect, mutual understanding, win-win cooperation, and building up commonalities while setting aside differences, the China-New Zealand relations will sail toward an ever brighter future, to the benefit of the two peoples, and contributing at the same time, to peace, stability and prosperity of the region and the world. 

I was invited to address the opening of the annual conference of NZ China Friendship Society in Auckland yesterday. One of the observations I shared with them is: Partnerships between states tend to last when they are rooted in friendship between their peoples, which, in turn, starts from mutual understanding and trust. 

There is no doubt that the healthy and stable development of China-New Zealand relations would help to create a favourable environment for the work and life of the Chinese community in New Zealand. For this reason, the Chinese community is definitely a major stakeholder in the state of the relationship. But you are also uniquely placed to contribute to strengthening the people-to-people links and the overall bilateral relationship. Many of you, having lived and worked in New Zealand for a long time, even for many generations, are well versed in both cultures and traditions. You are thus natural bridge builders for mutual understanding, to enable NZ-China friendship and cooperation to take deeper roots in the hearts and minds of both peoples and bear more fruits for both sides.  

Before concluding, let me reiterate that on the part of  the Chinese Government and the Embassy, we encourage members of the Chinese community to abide by local laws and regulations, integrate into the local societies and contribute to local development. At the same time, we hope that their legitimate rights and interests will be respected, and that an open, inclusive and non-discriminatory environment will be created for their life and work here. In this respect, the embassy will continue to work together with both the central and local governments in NZ and organizations like NZCA to support the Chinese community in NZ.

Finally, I wish all members of the Chinese community here in New Zealand a happy and fulfilling life! And I wish NZCA ever greater achievements in its endeavours, and this year’s conference a great success!

Thank you.


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