Further talks needed to seal upgraded China-NZ FTA
Prime Minister John Key discussed a revised free trade agreement with President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Prime Minister John Key says further talks will be needed before China and New Zealand can upgrade their free-trade agreement.
In a statement issued after his meeting in Beijing with President Xi Jinping, Mr Key said: “Good progress has been made in determining the scope of what an FTA upgrade might cover, and I appreciate the open and frank conversation I have been able to hold with President Xi.
“President Xi and I agreed to find a pragmatic way to finalise the launch of the upgrade and trade ministers will meet soon to progress this."
Mr Key says the meeting discussed the positive progress in the New Zealand-China relationship since entering a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2014.
“New Zealand’s relationship with China is broader and deeper than ever before,” he says. “It was great to see President Xi again, to take stock of what we have achieved and to discuss further opportunities for collaboration.
“We also discussed New Zealand’s term on the UN Security Council, which has provided a valuable and unique opportunity for us to work together on international security and United Nations policy issues."
Mr Key raised former prime minister Helen Clark’s bid for the role of UN secretary-general.
“The UN needs strong leadership, given a number of global challenges it is facing. I explained to President Xi why New Zealand believes Helen Clark is the best person for the job,” Mr Key says.
Bank of China gains visa deal
Meanwhile, Mr Key saigned a deal between Immigration New Zealand and Bank of China that will help simplify the visa application processes for the bank's high net worth customers wishing to study, visit and/or invest in New Zealand.
The co-signer was Bank of China Group vice chairman Siqing Chen. The chief executive officer of the bank'sNew Zealand subsidiary, David Lei Wang, says the agreement will help realise the goal of the New Zealand-China trade relationship to reach around $30 billion by 2020.
“In addition to supporting New Zealand’s education and tourism industry, the agreement will also enable Bank of China customers’ access to immigration approved investment funds in New Zealand,” Mr Wang says.
Nevil Gibson
Wed, 20 Apr 2016
Wed, 20 Apr 2016
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Further talks needed to seal upgraded China-NZ FTA
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