New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said on Monday that he will lead a trade team to China at the end of this month.
Hipkins told a weekly media conference that the New Zealand team would include leaders from a variety of industries, including dairy, tourism, education, and gaming.
“Today I can announce that I’ll be leading a major trade delegation to China at the end of this month.
“The relationship with China is one of New Zealand’s most significant, wide-ranging and complex,” Hipkins said.
This will be Hipkins first visit to China since he became leader in January when former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stood down. He travelled to Papua New Guinea this year for a US-Pacific Summit.
China is New Zealand’s greatest trading partner, with annual exports totaling more than NZ$20 billion. Unlike Australia, New Zealand has not encountered Chinese trade barriers in recent years as a result of different conflicts.
