China-New Zealand ties: a timely focus: Brian Lynch reports on a symposium held recently in Wellington.

• Author: Lynch, Brian
• Position: CONFERENCE REPORT

A one-day symposium was held in Wellington on 5 September 2012 to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and New Zealand. It was a substantial event, co-hosted on the New Zealand side by the Contemporary China Research Centre at Victoria University of Wellington and by the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. Their China partner was the prestigious Chinese Academy of Social Sciences based in Beijing. It was an occasion to not only mark a notable anniversary but also take a serious look at a relationship that has become hugely important to New Zealand. How does New Zealand make the most of the opportunities being offered, including in commercial terms, with a China that has moved back to centre-stage on the world scene? Where do other significant aspects of the relationship fit--cultural, educational, migrational, diplomatic and strategic--that need to be factored in when contemplating the future direction of bilateral ties?

The attractive venue for the occasion was the Legislative Council Chamber in the old Parliament Building. In fitting recognition of the significance of the anniversary and the impressive calibre of those in speaking roles, close to 250 registered for the symposium and most remained throughout the day. This was a rare number for such an event and would have been higher had the venue been allowed to accommodate more. It was pleasing for the organisers and the symposiums eleven sponsors that the attendance was at such a high level.

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Following welcoming remarks by Victoria University's vice-chancellor, Professor Pat Walsh, and the chair of the Research Centre, Tony Browne, a former New Zealand ambassador to China, the keynote address was given by Prime Minister John Key (the text of which is to be found elsewhere in this issue). The symposium then took the form of four panel discussions. The first panel offered a reflective look at how the bilateral relationship has evolved. The next two panels had a focus on some specific core aspects of the relationship. The fourth was asked to address the question of 'where to from here' and to identify challenges ahead for the two partners in their quest to continue to add new breadth and depth to the relationship. There was frequent reference to the unique position New Zealand has established in its relationship with China, having been the first developed economy to recognise China market economy, successfully completed negotiations with China over its entry to the World Trade Organisation, initiated negotiations on a free trade agreement, and successfully concluded a high quality trade agreement.

The twenty lead speakers and panelists were a diverse group. They came from academia in China and New Zealand, the 'fourth estate' in New Zealand and elsewhere, research institutes, private enterprise and the political community. They brought a wealth of personal experience and relevant professional perspective to the symposium. The large audience, too, featured many who had serious former or current engagement in the relationship; they were well-placed and seized the opportunity to contribute to the spirited dialogue that occurred after every panel. Predictably, the health of the bilateral relationship in its many facets dominated the agenda. In retrospect, there could have been rather more attention to the useful co-operation and collaboration going on in the multilateral setting, and the planned Beijing meeting might well cover this aspect.

Important partnership

John Key's address traced the growth of bilateral ties from their slim beginnings in the early 1970s to the broad-based relationship that now exists. He described it as one of New Zealand's most important partnerships. The 2008 free trade agreement, he said, had unleashed exponential growth that had catapulted China into the position of being New Zealand's second-ranked trading partner, the largest provider of foreign imports to New Zealand and a welcome source of foreign investment. Two-way trade was on track to double by 2015. China is also now New Zealand's second largest source of migrants and supplies the highest number of foreign students. Chinese tourists visiting New Zealand are second in number only to those from Australia. Key highlighted solid bilateral co-operation on regional issues including emergency...