Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has wrapped up his Shanghai visit, and said $871 million of commercial agreements were signed today between New Zealand businesses and their Chinese counterparts.
He is now headed for Beijing, where he is set to meet with China’s president Xi Jinping, and other leaders from the country.
Earlier today, it was announced New Zealand has paused nearly $20 million in development assistance to the Cook Islands over its recent dealings with China.
Trade delegation bound Beijing for a meeting with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang (Source: 1News)
But before departing Shanghai, the Prime Minister said New Zealand’s trade relationship with China is “one of our most important” with two way trade “exceeding NZ$39 billion” in the year ending March 2025, which accounts for “more than 20%” of New Zealand’s total goods and services exports.
Watch more on the timing of the Cook Islands support pause on TVNZ+
He said the agreements signed today is “a clear sign of strength and momentum in our trade relationship”.
“We also announced we would be making it easier for Chinese nationals to transit via New Zealand by removing the need to get a transit visa, instead being able to get a New Zealanders Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA), significantly cutting costs and time for visitors.”
“This resulted in one of the major announcements in Shanghai, that China Eastern Airlines was launching twice weekly flights to South America via Auckland.”
In Shanghai, Luxon was joined by New Zealand business leaders across the food and beverage, health and wellbeing, education and tourism sectors, along with Ministers Louise Upston and Mark Mitchell.
1News Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver unpacks the withdrawal of aid funding due to dealings with China. (Source: 1News)
During the Shanghai trip, Luxon participated in a livestream event with Upston, which he said was watched by over 10 million people, to promote New Zealand travel offerings.
He also visited Fudan University, one of China’s most prestigious academic institutions, to “promote New Zealand as a destination for world-class research, study, and partnership”.
Luxon then met with Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining to discuss Shanghai as a gateway for a high proportion of New Zealand goods, services and people-to-people flows, and other bilateral issues.
Luxon’s trip to China has come amid global uncertainty, amid the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel.
After his meetings in Beijing, the Prime Minister will then go to Europe to undertake bilateral visits in Brussels and the Hague, and take part in the NATO summit.
