Todd McClay: Trade Minister on Chinese Premier Li Qiang visiting New Zealand this week

The Trade Minister says it's important for the nation to strengthen its economic relationship with China.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Luxon announced Chinese Premier Li Qiang will visit New Zealand later this week. 

Minister Todd McClay says since the change in Government, there's been an increase in contact and engagement with China.

"$40 billion worth of two-way trade, that's very important for us to keep that relationship open and keep talking."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Just an hour ago, it was announced the Chinese Premier
Lee Chiang will visit New Zealand this Thursday. It is
the first visit by the Chinese premier since twenty seventeen
and marks a significant shift from our relationship with China
under the last government. Todd McLay is the Trade Minister.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
Hey Todd, Hey Heather, how are you.

Speaker 1 (00:16):
I'm very well, thank you. What Chinese business is going
to read this visit as a signal that they can
have confidence in the relationship between China and New Zealand, Well, yes.

Speaker 2 (00:23):
I think they will, as New Zealand business is sure.
It's a very long standing relationship. In fact, it we're
sort of ten years ago this year we signed a
comprehensive strategic partnership around trade with China and we've seen
our trade grow from strength to strength, almost forty billion
dollars in two in both ways now and so it's
a very important economic relationship and I think the Chinese

(00:45):
Premier coming here underpins the importance of that to the
two economies. What have you guys got planned from Well,
he will be in Wonnington and then other parts of
the country as well. There will be formal meetings with
the Prime Minister and a number of things were working through.
You can normally expect announcements around areas to cooperate all

(01:06):
steps forward. But look, I want to leave that for
the Prime Minister in the premiere to do later in
the week.

Speaker 1 (01:11):
Why was there that gap of seven years without a visit.

Speaker 2 (01:15):
Well, I think it's probably a range of things. I mean,
I was in opposition for all of that time, so
you know, I didn't have too much input. But I
suppose we also had COVID through the middle of that.
But since the change of government last year, there has
been an increase in contact and engagement. I've been up
to China for meetings with my counterparts across portfolios. In fact,

(01:35):
I've had two meetings with their Commerce minister, who's the
equivalent of trade. The Chinese Foreign Minister has visited here,
was meet with the Prime Minister with Saint Peters and
I and we've just had another minister from China down
as well. So you know, it's clear to say that
there's a lot of engagement going on, and you know,
forty billion dollars with a two way trade, that's very
important for us to keep that relationship open and keep

(01:57):
talking to what.

Speaker 1 (01:57):
Some people are reading it as if the Chinese had
got the hip with the Labor Party, your predecessors. But
I just wonder, I mean, that may have been part
of it, but I wonder if it actually is more
of a reflection of the breakdown in the relationship between
Australia and China.

Speaker 2 (02:10):
Well, I think it was certainly clear when Labour first
came to government. It took quite some time for them
to be a visit and then you remember Prime Minister
doing with up there and was only able to go
up for a day. And look, probably that was as
much to do with a new government working out what
to do domestically. But it doesn't matter whether it's China
or the US, or the European Union or India. You know,

(02:31):
small country like New Zeala needs to keep investing in
those relationships. We can't just assume that, you know that
people will buy from us or governments will know where
we are. And so I think that's why, you know,
it's very very important this visit is taking place. I
don't think it is to do with what's happened in Australia.
And you know we've seen the Australian Chinese relationship, particularly
in Trader over the last period of time, you know,

(02:53):
strengthen and get back to an agree of normality. Todd.

Speaker 1 (02:55):
Beasts of like enjoy the trip That's Todd McClay, Trade Minister.

Speaker 2 (02:59):
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