The summit is the first major business event regarding the bilateral relations between the two countries after the COVID-19 lockdown in New Zealand.
In her keynote speech, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern reiterated that the New Zealand-China relations have been stable and mature enough to continuously support the two-way trade, people-to-people exchange, cultural and political dialogues.
“Our comprehensive strategic partnership now in its sixth year continues to be the basis of our relationship, alongside our long standing history and the benefits it brings. The partnership continues to bring benefit for us, supported by a commitment of our ongoing one-China policy,” said Ardern.
Ardern regarded the two-way trade as the bedrock of the New Zealand-China ties, saying she is pleased to see a strong export data of New Zealand quality products to China despite some decrease caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wu Xi echoed in her speech that the development of the China-New Zealand relations has generally been stable with close communication, mutual understanding and mutual support in the fight against COVID-19.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, trade and business cooperation between China and New Zealand has also been stable, said Wu Xi, believing that the pandemic has brought challenges for the two countries but new cooperation opportunities as well.
E-commerce, health, high quality food products, bio-technology, online education and aged care sectors are identified as having the potential for the two sides to broaden mutual cooperation, said the Chinese ambassador.
The Chinese ambassador said that the two countries should continue to enrich the content of cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.
The Chinese ambassador believed that the two sides can expand cooperation sectors by upholding the principles of mutual respect, mutual benefit and win-win.
Business leaders and entrepreneurs from the New Zealand aviation industry, banking, food and beverage, export, tourism and education sectors also discussed the challenges and opportunities in the New Zealand-China business relations after the COVID-19 lockdown.
Chief Executive Officer of New Zealand dairy company Fonterra Co-operative Group Miles Hurrell was looking forward to the company’s business prospect in China as the company is to further its investment in China.
With the Chinese economy getting back to normal, the outlook of its business, especially the ingredients part, is strong, said Hurrell.
