The protocol to upgrade the China-New Zealand free Trade Agreement (FTA) officially came into force on July 7. In a recent interview with Xinhua News Agency, Chinese and Singaporean officials said that new tariff reductions, customs clearance facilitation measures and wider opening-up will bring more convenience and benefits to bilateral trade.

A cargo ship loaded with more than 5,000 tons of kiwifruit from New Zealand's Gapy arrived at Damayu Port in Taizhou, Zhejiang Province On October 10. Michael Fox, director of external affairs for The company, told Xinhua excitedly that the company plans to ship 20 cargo ships of kiwifruit to the Chinese market throughout the year.

Gappi is the world's largest kiwi fruit manufacturer and distributor. Thanks to the terms of the free trade agreement, The kiwis are able to ensure fast customs clearance throughout the cold chain, ensuring the quality they present to Chinese consumers as fresh imports, Fox said.

Justine Arrol, global General Manager of trade strategy at Fonterra, a leading dairy company in New Zealand, welcomed and appreciated the upgrade of the bilateral FREE trade agreement. Under the agreement, all New Zealand dairy products will have preferential access to the Chinese market by January 2024, benefiting New Zealand as one of the world's leading dairy exporters, Arrol said.

The New Zealand Fjord Lobster Company is also gearing up to expand into the Chinese market, adjusting and allocating resources for lobster consumption during the Golden Week of China's National Day. Andrew Harvey, managing director, said: "We are very excited about the lobster market in China this year."

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Singapore. Huang Yuefeng, economic and Commercial Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand, said the upgrading of the bilateral free trade agreement not only reflects the resilience and potential of bilateral trade, but also shows the determination of both sides to commit to multilateralism and free trade on the basis of cooperation. He pointed out that the Chinese market has increasingly become a strategic market for many New Zealand companies and bilateral trade cooperation will enjoy a broader future.

Former New Zealand Ambassador to China Tony Brown told reporters that the upgraded Fta is one of the most important achievements in bilateral relations. "It is not only about tariffs and trade volume, but the outstanding contribution is greater customs clearance. Faster and more efficient customs clearance means time savings for exporters, "he said.

Bao said that over the decades, the two governments have maintained close communication and mutual understanding, laying a solid foundation for better economic exchanges. In the post-COVID-19 era, China's trade importance to New Zealand will not be reduced, but will be further strengthened.