Strategic independence promotes win-win China-New Zealand ties

When President Xi Jinping visited New Zealand in 2014, he wrote in a signed article published in The New Zealand Herald that "the two countries have set many records in China's relations with developed countries" and called for "an even better future" for bilateral relations.

Nine years have passed and relations have indeed prospered. New Zealand was the first Western nation to sign a memorandum of cooperation with China under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, which it did in 2017. And despite the immense pressure from the COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainties caused by the Ukraine crisis, the two nations upgraded the protocol of their bilateral free trade agreement in 2021, which came into effect as scheduled in April 2022. China is benefiting New Zealand with its photovoltaic and wind power industries, while being a main customer of the latter's dairy products. The trade volume in goods between the two countries reached $25.2 billion in 2022.

With President Xi meeting New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins on Tuesday, the two nations, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations half a year ago, have now opened a new chapter for their relations. The healthy and mutually beneficial relations between the two countries have much to do with New Zealand keeping aloof from the US-led China bashing.