News:
The 31st New Zealand-China Joint Trade and Economic Commission was held virtually on Tuesday 28 September 2021 between MFAT Deputy Secretary - Americas and Asia, Mark Sinclair and his counterpart, Vice Minister Wang Shouwen, from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM).
COVID-19 was top of mind for both New Zealand and China. Deputy Secretary Sinclair and Vice Minister Wang discussed the ways through which our trade and economic relationship can support the recovery.
Officials discussed the New Zealand-China FTA Upgrade, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), trade facilitation and the maintenance of supply chains, which both sides noted was an important aspect of the COVID-19 recovery.
Deputy Secretary Sinclair and Vice Minister Wang also took the opportunity to discuss global and regional trade issues, including the priorities for New Zealand’s Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2021 host year, regional trade agreements, as well as cooperation ahead of the twelfth World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference in December 2021.
The Commission provides a regularised forum for senior leaders at MFAT and MOFCOM to take stock of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. It also provides an opportunity to look to the future. In this regard, New Zealand was pleased to discuss our continued interest in working with China to support the rules-based multilateral system, and to work together to face the challenges posed by climate change.