New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced that Chinese Premier Li Qiang will visit New Zealand later this week. Source: Timberbiz
“I look forward to warmly welcoming Premier Li in New Zealand. The Premier’s visit is a valuable opportunity for exchanges on areas of cooperation between New Zealand and China,” Mr Luxon says.
“China is New Zealand’s largest trading partner, with two-way trade worth almost $38 billion last year. From innovative agri-tech and high-quality food, to creative industries, and world class tourism and education, New Zealand has a lot to offer China.
“I am confident that trade with China will continue to grow, supporting the Government’s goal to double the value of exports in the next decade.”
Premier Li’s visit marks 10 years since the conclusion of the New Zealand China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
China is New Zealand’s largest trading partner with around NZ$38 billion for the year ending March 2024 (Statistics New Zealand) but relationships have not always been ideal and this a way to get things back on track. When it comes to the timber trade more than half of all logs processed at China’s ports were from New Zealand. Statistics New Zealand also shows that 89% of radiata pine logs from New Zealand in April headed for China.
“New Zealand and China engage where we have shared interests, and we speak frankly and constructively with each other where we have differences. Our relationship is significant, complex, and resilient,” Mr Luxon said.
“The challenging global outlook makes it vital that we are sharing perspectives and engaging China on key issues that matter to New Zealand.”
Premier Li will receive a ceremonial welcome in Wellington, followed by bilateral talks with the Prime Minister and an official dinner. Engagements in Wellington and Auckland will focus on important areas of cooperation including innovative business, agri-tech, education, and people-to-people connections.
In a statement from China’s foreign ministry, it said Premier Li’s tour was at the invitation of the New Zealand Prime Minister but also of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and he was to co-chair the ninth China-Australia Annual Leaders’ Meeting.
Australia has an annual timber trade with China that is worth more than $1.5 billion, it was temporarily halted due to ‘a regulatory measure’ as pests were found by China in Australian timber in 2020. Australia’s timber trade with China resumed in May last year.
