On the afternoon of May 5th, the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand and China Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand jointly held an online roundtable on China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Upgrade Policy & Practice. This meeting kicked off a series of meetings hosted by the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand to celebrate the 50th anniversary of China-New Zealand relations. Officials and experts from public and private sectors of both sides shared knowledge and perspectives on policies under the upgraded FTA, and explored new areas and ways for future cooperation. H.E. Ambassador Wang Xiaolong participated in this event and addressed the audience.

Ambassador Wang states that the 50th anniversary is a major milestone for both sides, which offers an important opportunity for the two countries to reflect on the progress made and chart the way forward. In the span of half a century, bilateral relations have struck deep roots and borne rich fruits, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples, and imparting increasing substance to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries. 

Ambassador Wang points out, while trade has been a powerful engine for the overall relationship, it cannot and has not taken place in a vacuum. For the latter would provide the macro environment, favorable or otherwise, for trade to be conducted. 

Ambassador Wang expounds the three keywords to define China-New Zealand relations. The first one is comprehensive: the two countries have conducted all-round cooperation in high level engagement, trade and economic cooperation, climate change and environment, people-to-people exchanges and many other areas. The second one is strategic: what China and New Zealand stand for, and what the two countries work together on, can make a difference for the broader region and even globally. A strong relationship with NZ is not only in the long-term fundamental interest of both sides and will also contribute to global and regional peace, stability and prosperity. The third one is partnership: with strong economic complementarity, New Zealand and China have forged a bond of closely intertwined interests, and both peoples have benefited from the win-win cooperation.

Ambassador Wang acknowledges the contribution from business communities to the evolving bilateral relations. He points out that the upgraded FTA will help build on current momentum in bilateral practical cooperation, and moreover, as China is working proactively to join CPTPP and DEPA, China’s efforts to pursue high-standard opening up will foster new growth drivers and open up new frontiers. Ambassador Wang calls on both sides to keep joining hands together so as to advance the development of bilateral relations. 

Four speakers from China and New Zealand were invited to deliver keynote speech at the meeting. They are: Mr. Fu Bo, Director of Department of International Trade and Economic Affairs of China’s Ministry of Commerce; Mr. Alistair Crozier, Executive Director of New Zealand China Council; Dr. Yang Jing, Deputy Director from Agricultural Trade Promotion Center of China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Ms. Justine Arroll, Trade Strategy Manager at Fonterra. All speakers acknowledge that the upgraded FTA and China’s efforts to join CPTPP and DEPA will inject impetus to the growing bilateral economic and trade cooperation. They discuss potential cooperation in areas such as e-commerce, environment and trade, service trade in agriculture sector and supply of high-quality dairy nutrition.

Commercial Counselor Huang Yuefeng of the Embassy closed this event with an appeal to companies from both sides to grasp the new opportunities brought by the upgraded FTA and China’s efforts to join CPTPP and DEPA, to explore new areas and ways for cooperation, and push for more achievements.