People's Republic of China–New Zealand relations

Sino-New Zealand relations, bilateral relations between New Zealand and the People's Republic of China, are excellent, with ever greater trust being developed and shared between the two countries. The key features of this relationsip are the Free Trade Agreement, the only one New Zealand has with a major country, and the Education and Exchange programs provided by both countries.

Free trade agreement

A free trade agreement (FTA) between China and New Zealand was signed on 7 April 2008 by Premier of the People's Republic of China Wen Jiabao and Prime Minister of New Zealand Helen Clark in Beijing.^[1] Under the agreement, about one third of New Zealand exports to China will be free of tariffs from 1 October 2008, with another third becoming tariff free by 2013, and all but 4% by 2019.^[1] In return, 60% of China's exports to New Zealand will become tariff free by 2016 or earlier; more than a third are already duty free.^[2] Investment, migration, and trade in services will also be facilitated.^[3]

This free trade agreement is New Zealand's largest since the Closer Economic Relations agreement with Australia was signed in 1983. It is the first time China has entered into a comprehensive free trade agreement with a developed country.^[4]

The agreement has taken over three years to negotiate. On 19 November 2004 Helen Clark and President of the People's Republic of China, Hu Jintao announced the commencement of negotiations towards an FTA at the APEC Leaders meeting in Santiago, Chile. The first round of negotiations was held in December 2004. Fifteen rounds took place before the FTA was signed in April 2008.^[5]

While the FTA enjoys the support of New Zealand's two largest political parties, Labour and National, other parties such as the Green Party and the Māori Party oppose the agreement.^[6][7] Winston Peters was also a vocal opponent of the agreement, but agreed not to criticise it while acting as Minister of Foreign Affairs overseas (a position he held from 2005 to 2008).^[8]

Education and Exchange Programmes

China and New Zealand have a history of education links and exchanges, including bilateral scholarship programmes and academic cooperation. But there has been a dramatic expansion in student flows and other engagement since the late 1990s. Until 1998, a New Zealand quota system permitted only 100 Chinese students per year to study in New Zealand. The removal of this restriction coincided with greater financial and social freedoms for Chinese citizens to study overseas - by 2002 there were over 30,000 Chinese students in New Zealand, and, in 2003/2004, nearly 65,000 mainland Chinese student applied for visas to study in New Zealand. China remains by far New Zealand’s most significant source of foreign students. Delivery of New Zealand education services in China through joint programme arrangements is increasing. The appointment of a New Zealand education counsellor in Beijing, regular high-level meetings, are all playing a role in this effort to broaden and raise the level of education engagement with China.^[9]

Historical timeline

New Zealand's contact with China started early in its history. The first records of ethnic Chinese in New Zealand were immigrants from Guangdong Province, who arrived during the 1860s gold rush era, with missionary, trade, extensive immigration and other links continuing during China’s Republican era (1912-49). The establishment of the People’s Republic brought these links to a halt.

New Zealand formally recognised the PRC in 1972. At the end of 1972 the Third Labour Government was elected, and was expected to recognise the PRC. Then, surprisingly the new Prime Minister, Norman Kirk, hesitated: After barely two weeks in office he suggested that it might be better to delay recognition until his second term. However he was talked out of this by the Foreign Ministry (now under Frank Corner) and the recognition formalities were completed just before Christmas. ^[10]

The first New Zealand Parliamentary Delegation to the People's Republic of China occurred in April-May 1977. The delegation was led by the Speaker, Sir Roy Jack, and included Hon. Mick Connelly, Mary Batchelor, Mel Courtney, Derek Quigley, Ben Couch, Merv Wellington and Secretary to the Speaker, Robert McKay.

The history of New Zealand’s formal relations with China since then has not been without discord. The crackdown by the Chinese Government on the Tiananmen Square demonstrations of June 1989 was strongly condemned in New Zealand and official ministerial official contact was suspended for more than a year.

Bilateral communication between New Zealand and China officials has expanded over the years since the protests though. Foreign policy talks, and economic and trade talks, are held regularly. A Trade and Economic Cooperation Framework (TECF) signed in 2004 provides a mechanism for increased cooperation in areas of mutual interest. There are formal bilateral dialogues on agriculture, dairy and forestry. New Zealand and China launched negotiations towards a free trade agreement in November 2004, with an agreement being signed in April 2008. There is regular contact on a wide range of issues including defence, law and governance, human rights, multilateral trade, regional security, international fisheries management, and developmental assistance.

New Zealand and China celebrated 35 years of diplomatic relations in 2007. The bilateral relationship has grown to become one of New Zealand’s most important. As a global and regional influence, the fourth largest trading partner of New Zealand and a major source of student immigrants and tourists, China is extremely important to New Zealand as a multilateral and bilateral partner. Trade between the two countries totals about NZD$7.54 billion.^[11]

The China/New Zealand relationship is characterised by various & regular high-level contacts, an expanding range of official dialogues - both formal and informal, healthy and diversifying trade and economic flows in both directions, and extensive people to people links.

Migration

China and New Zealand have a long history of people to people contacts, beginning with the arrival in New Zealand of large numbers of Chinese immigrants in the latter half of the nineteenth century (notably goldminers) and travel by New Zealand missionaries and others to China to live and work. Of the early New Zealanders in China, the best known is Rewi Alley, who was a New Zealand-born writer, educator, social reformer, potter, and member of the Communist Party of China and lived and worked in China for 60 years until his death in 1987. He came to symbolise the important role of people to people contacts in building good relations and accentuating common ground between countries as different as New Zealand and China. In 1997, the 100th anniversary of Alley’s birth was marked by celebrations in Beijing and New Zealand, and the 110th anniversary was commemorated in 2007.

Bilateral representation

There are many official contacts between New Zealand and the PRC, which provide the opportunity for high-level discussions and the continued development of bilateral relations. Many ministers meet with their Chinese counterparts at international meetings and events.

Chinese tours by New Zealand delegates and ministers

New Zealand Ministerial Visits to the People's Republic of China:^[9]

New Zealand tours by Chinese delegates and ministers

Chinese Ministerial Visits to New Zealand

President

Premier

State Council

Ministers

Diplomatic Representation

• New Zealand is represented in China through the New Zealand Embassy in Beijing.
• China is represented in New Zealand through the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Wellington.

See also

• Sino-Pacific relations
• Foreign relations of China
• Foreign relations of New Zealand

References

External links

• New Zealand - China Free Trade Agreement, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade