China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership: mutually beneficial cooperation for a shared future

Editor's note: Zhou Jianjun is an assistant researcher at the Institute of National Systems and School of Economics at Zhejiang University. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN. It has been translated from Chinese and edited for brevity and clarity.

2024 marks the 10th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and New Zealand. 

Over the past decade, under the framework of this comprehensive strategic partnership, the two countries have developed a new mechanism for cooperation and a new model for mutual benefits, achieving remarkable results and effectively benefiting their people.

China-New Zealand political cooperation 'steady and pragmatic'

Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1972, China and New Zealand have enjoyed smooth development in their bilateral relations. Their mutual trust continues to deepen, and their practical cooperation keeps expanding. 

The leaders of both countries have made frequent visits and in-depth engagements. 

In 1999, China and New Zealand agreed to establish a long-term and stable relationship of healthy development for the 21st century. 

In 2014, both sides decided to elevate the China-New Zealand relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. 

In June 2023, the then New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins led a delegation to visit China, and both sides agreed to strengthen high-level exchanges, deepen cooperation, enhance understanding and manage differences at the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. 

As the comprehensive strategic partnership enters a new decade, high-level exchanges between China and New Zealand will be steadier and more pragmatic, continuing to provide strategic guidance for the healthy development of China-New Zealand relations.

Both China & New Zealand have benefitted from economic and trade exchanges

China and New Zealand have close economic and trade ties, achieving several "firsts" in their cooperation. 

Since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership in 2014, economic and trade cooperation between China and New Zealand has been fruitful. 

In 2023, the then New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins noted that China is a key part of New Zealand's economic recovery.

Bilateral trade reached $21.36 billion in 2023, a 49.9 percent increase from $14.25 billion in 2014. In terms of trading scale, China has remained New Zealand's largest trading partner in goods for several consecutive years. 

During his visit to New Zealand on June 13, Chinese Premier Li Qiang expressed China's willingness to continue expanding trade with New Zealand, tapping into cooperation potential in fields such as the digital economy, green economy, new energy vehicles and creative industries, as well as promoting regional economic cooperation. 

Under the framework of the comprehensive strategic partnership, economic and trade exchanges between the two sides will proceed deeper, thus consolidating the economic foundation for the sustainable development of bilateral relations.

China & New Zealand have comprehensively furthered cultural exchanges

China and New Zealand enjoy a long history of cultural exchanges, with strong bonds between their peoples.

Since Guilin in China and Hastings in New Zealand forged a sister-city relationship in 1981, many more pairs of sister provinces and cities have been formed, building a solid bridge of friendship for cultural exchanges and people-to-people interactions between localities of the two countries. 

During his visit to New Zealand in June, Chinese Premier Li Qiang emphasized that China is willing to continuously deepen cultural exchanges with New Zealand, including granting New Zealand a unilateral visa-free treatment and hoping New Zealand will facilitate Chinese citizens' travel to New Zealand. The sound relationship between the two countries lies in the amity between their people, and this amity is derived from heart-to-heart exchanges. With the deepening of the China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership and closer people-to-people interactions, there will surely be more robust public support for bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields.

China advocates a partnership that emphasizes political cooperation, economic exchanges and cultural interactions based on mutual respect, equality, friendship and mutual benefits. This will promote common development between China and New Zealand, and is set to become a trend and model of bilateral cooperation globally. In this way, China can contribute to promoting world peace and development and building a human community with a shared future.

(Cover via CFP)