Sino-New Zealand relations

Sino-New Zealand relations refer to bilateral relations between New Zealand and the People's Republic of China. New Zealand contact with China started very early in its history with 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. 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. [ [http://www.mfat.govt.nz/Countries/Asia-North/China.php China - Country Information Paper - NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade ] ]

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.

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.cite web|url=http://www.mfat.govt.nz/Countries/Asia-North/China.php |title=http://www.mfat.govt.nz/Countries/Asia-North/China.php |publisher=New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade |accessdate=2008-04-07 |date=2008-04-04 |title=People’s Republic of China]

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.cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/feature/story.cfm?c_id=1501819&objectid=10502506&pnum=0|title=Trade agreement just the start - Clark|publisher=The New Zealand Herald|date=7 April 2008|author=Fran O'Sullivan with NZPA] 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. 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. [http://chinafta.govt.nz/1-The-agreement/1-Key-outcomes/1-Goods/index.php Key outcomes - Goods] , New Zealand - China Free Trade Agreement, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.] Investment, migration, and trade in services will also be facilitated. [http://chinafta.govt.nz/1-The-agreement/1-Key-outcomes/1-Goods/index.php Key outcomes] , New Zealand - China Free Trade Agreement, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.]

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.cite news|url=http://www.forbes.com/markets/2008/04/07/china-nz-fta-markets-econ-cx_jc_0407markets2.html |title=Landmark Trade Deal Struck By China, New Zealand |date=2008-04-07 |accessdate=2008-04-07 |publisher=Forbes.com]

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.cite news|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-04/07/content_6594515.htm |title=China, New Zealand ink FTA today |date=2008-04-07 |accessdate=2008-04-07 |publisher=chinadaily.com.cn]

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. [Hone Harawira, [http://www.maoriparty.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1666&Itemid=2 Maori Party opposes FTA with China] . Press release, Maori Party, 1 April 2008.] [Russel Norman, [http://www.greens.org.nz/searchdocs/PR11731.html Trading away our integrity – for what?] . Press release, Green Party, 7 April 2008.] The suspended Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, leader of the Labour government's coalition partner New Zealand First is also a vocal opponent of the agreement. [cite news|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5XKJJDbRg|archivedate=2008-04-25|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/4478300a6160.html|title=Clark: I have Winston's assurance on FTA|publisher=Fairfax New Zealand|date=13 April 2008]

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 Peoples Republic of China:

tate 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.

ee also

*China
*New Zealand
*Foreign relations of China
*Foreign relations of New Zealand

References

External links

* [http://www.chinafta.govt.nz/ New Zealand - China Free Trade Agreement] , New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade