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New Zealand FM's visit enhances its cooperation with China
National flags of New Zealand and China. /CFP
National flags of New Zealand and China. /CFP

National flags of New Zealand and China. /CFP

Editor's note: Daryl Guppy is an international financial technical analysis expert. He has provided a weekly Shanghai Index analysis for media for the Chinese mainland for more than a decade. Guppy appears regularly on CNBC Asia and is known as "The Chart Man." He is a former national board member of the Australia China Business Council. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

New Zealand, unlike its Pacific partner, Australia, has always taken a principled approach to its foreign relations. Despite America's ire, it still refuses to allow U.S. warships to visit its ports unless they declare they are not carrying nuclear weapons. The U.S. refuses to comply with this request and New Zealand refuses to budge.

New Zealand carries the same approach to its relationship with China, handling its diplomatic relationship with great and principled respect. New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta's visit to China on March 22 is just the latest expression of an ongoing relationship that places more importance on common interests than it does on points of difference.

The New Zealand economy has benefited greatly from these cordial relations. China is New Zealand's largest trading partner, accounting for about 30 percent of New Zealand's total exports. Exporters rely on China to buy milk products and other agricultural goods. Chinese tourists enjoy New Zealand's clean, calm, natural environment and an inspiring recovery of Chinese tourism offers significant economic benefits.

"New Zealand's relationship with China is one of our most important, complex and wide ranging," Mahuta said. "I intend to discuss areas where we cooperate, such as on trade, people-to-people exchange and climate and environmental issues."

In this, she was supported by the new Prime Minister, Chris Hipkins. He reaffirmed that China was "a very important relationship to New Zealand," and it was "important that we re-establish those in-person opportunities to engage country-to-country." Looking to the future of the relationship, Hipkins said he may also visit China later this year, but no trip has been confirmed yet.

"China is a very important relationship to New Zealand and obviously travel between New Zealand and China has been quite restricted at the diplomatic level over the last few years," Hipkins said. "So it is important we re-establish those in-person opportunities to engage."

Under former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand never engaged in the belligerent approach to China that Australia aggressively adopted and ramped up from 2021. As a result of agreements with the U.S. under pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump, New Zealand did lose market share in dairy, but it remains the largest supplier of dairy products to China, after the European Union.

New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta speaks during the post-Cabinet press conference in Wellington, New Zealand, March 7, 2022. /CFP
New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta speaks during the post-Cabinet press conference in Wellington, New Zealand, March 7, 2022. /CFP

New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta speaks during the post-Cabinet press conference in Wellington, New Zealand, March 7, 2022. /CFP

Mahuta said that during her two days in Beijing, she would also meet with business leaders and their Chinese counterparts to better understand the opportunities for future business development. She will also hold a breakfast roundtable with female leaders.

It is reasonable to conclude that New Zealand's more measured and consistent approach to the China relationship has delivered a better economic outcome and enhanced New Zealand's ability to work with China on a range of economic and regional issues in trade forums. It is notable that Australia's new Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, has also adopted an approach that is more akin to New Zealand's with an emphasis on diplomacy.

Mahuta's visit is at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and will meet with him to discuss a range of issues in the relationship and to explore ways in which the relationship can be improved and expanded. This invitation, coming so soon after Qin's appointment, suggests that New Zealand enjoys a stable and cordial relationship with China that is likely to continue to the mutual benefit of both countries.

Mahuta said New Zealand's relationship with China was complex and wide-ranging, and noted the two countries had recently marked 50 years of diplomatic relations. She said "China is integral to New Zealand's economic recovery but our relationship is far broader – spanning cultural, educational and sporting links."

The visit by Mahuta shows a spirit of cooperation and an acknowledgement that although there may be differences of opinion on some issues, they do not define or dominate the relationship. This is a diplomatic achievement that provides a good model for the Pacific countries' engagement with China.

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com. Follow @thouse_opinions on Twitter to discover the latest commentaries in the CGTN Opinion Section.)

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