New Zealand: New Zealand Prime Minister Mr. Chris Hipkins is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping, Premier Mr. Li Qiang, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Mr. Zhao Leji during his upcoming trip to China. The confirmation came from Mr. Hipkins’ office, just a week after he announced the trip. Accompanied by a 29-member business delegation and Te Whānau-a-Apanui, champions of Te Matatini, Mr. Hipkins will visit Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai.

The itinerary includes various events such as a sustainability forum, gala dinner, a keynote address at Peking University, and attendance at the World Economic Forum’s “annual meeting of new champions.” In Shanghai, a tourism partnership will be launched, along with participation in sector and business events and meetings with senior Shanghai leadership.

Trade and Export Growth Minister Mr. Damien O’Connor and Tourism Minister Mr. Peeni Henare will join Mr. Hipkins on the trip. Mr. Hipkins emphasized the significance of China to New Zealand’s economic recovery, as it represents a quarter of all exports, was the country’s second-largest source of tourists pre-COVID, and is a major source of international students. He intends to discuss various topics during his meetings, including climate change, economic stability, regional and global security, human rights, and the situation in Ukraine.

While traditional exports like dairy, meat, and wood to China remain important, Mr. Hipkins stressed the importance of supporting emerging sectors such as gaming and health and wellness. The composition of the delegation reflects the objective of diversifying New Zealand’s export offerings.

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