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PM Bill English and China's Premier Li Keqiang meet for formal talks

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Mon, 27 Mar 2017, 11:41AM

PM Bill English and China's Premier Li Keqiang meet for formal talks

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Mon, 27 Mar 2017, 11:41AM

UPDATED 6.43PM The Government has announced a raft of new China initiatives to coincide with the visit of Premier Li Keqiang.

Prime Minister Bill English and Li Keqiang have met for formal talks at Premier House in Wellington today, along with nine other Ministers from both countries.

Mr English announced talks on upgrading the China free trade deal will begin as of April the 25th.

He said it's going to be a challenging negotiation due to sensitive issues like agriculture, but we're used to that.

He said the growth of trade has been so strong that some of the safeguards set in 2008 are quite low levels, and the dairy industry has raised this issue with him.

Mr English said there are other issues too that New Zealand businesses that trade with China want dealt with.

The Prime Minister also indicated China could join the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement in the long run, but said it wasn't a part of discussions this morning.

A number of agreements have been signed, and a date laid down to start the process for upgrading the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries, but no mention of TPP.

Mr English said they did talk further about ASEAN-led RCEP agreement.

"We're keen to see commercial relevant and valuable negotiations going on there. It's quite a challenge to move that along, but with respect to TPP, there wasn't any particular comment from him."

Mr English said there were discussions around getting negotiations on the RCEP deal continued, with China keen to see some progress.

But Mr English believes it'll be challenging to find progress that is meaningful for New Zealand.

"There's always a temptation with trade agreements just to agree on whatever. New Zealand has a strong focus on high quality agreements that really do deliver benefits and with RCEP that's a bit of a challenge."

Mr English said he expressed New Zealand's interest in the China-US relationship remaining a positive one, although he said he didn't discuss the US President with Premier Li.

"He fully understands the nature of the connection between the US and China, and I think very clearly understands what's a stake."

Deputy Prime Minister, Paula Bennett, meanwhile announced measures that will see China and New Zealand work together on climate change, covering areas such as cooperation on carbon markets and climate change talks.

And she has also flagged a new China tourism initiative for 2019 aimed at boosting the number of Chinese tourists visiting here.

In support of that, Minister of Transport Simon Bridges has signalled air service agreements with China are to be strengthened, allowing Chinese airlines to operate 59 flights here a week.

Premier Li was welcomed at Government House with a traditional powhiri this morning.

Mr English told Mr Li he is happy to be hosting him for his first visit here as Premier and described the relationship between New Zealand and China as being in great shape.

He said his Government is committed to its continuing success.

Mr English has noted its now been 45 years since New Zealand and China established diplomatic ties and he thinks we can be proud of what we have achieved in that time.

Auckland University's Dr Stephen Noakes said the relationship between the two countries has progressed to the point where both sides should be comfortable with laying all their cards on the table.

"This is an advantage that New Zealand has that many other countries do not.

"Because there are already strong bilateral ties, I think there is a certain frankness that can pervade throughout these sorts of discussions."

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