Future bright for China-New Zealand cooperation

Authorities in trade in New Zealand said Friday that they expect to know more about the Chinese market through the forthcoming China International Import Expo (CIIE) and will further customize products exported to China.

This is the second year that New Zealand will attend the expo, and enterprises will bring goods including food and healthcare products.

"It's an important opportunity for a lot of our companies to come to event," said Fiona Acheson, deputy consul general (commercial) at New Zealand Consulate General Shanghai.

Acheson said New Zealand has seen great outcomes for companies' communication with Chinese companies after last year's CIIE.

"We have similar expectation this year that New Zealand's companies will see what is happening in the Chinese market and know more about local customers," she said.

According to Damon Paling, trade commissioner of New Zealand Consulate-General Shanghai, products created by new research and innovation will be launched at the expo.

"Companies will continue to know Chinese consumption and demographic features and engage a new way to meet Chinese customers' demand," said Paling.

Acheson noted China is the largest trading partner for New Zealand, the largest source of foreign students, and the second-largest source of tourists.

New Zealand's exports to China valued NZ$15.6 billion from July, 2018, to June, 2019, surging over 23 percent compared with the same period last year.

Since the New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement was signed in 2008, two-way goods and services trade has quadrupled, and New Zealand exports to China have grown six-fold.

Regarding future trade cooperation with China, Paling said New Zealand's exporters used to only focus on tier-one-and-two cities in China, and now companies extend their reach to tier-three-five cities.

"We will help those enterprises to engage with Chinese entrepreneurs."

Paling added that the consumers' insights will be sent back to the research and development sector in New Zealand, for further customizing products exported to the China.

"It's a long term relationship with China in fields like retail and e-commerce, and we are optimistic towards the future between the two countries," he said.