Sino- New Zealand relations have created multiple “firsts” in China’s relations with developed countries. New Zealand was the first to sign and implement a bilateral free trade agreement with China, the first to negotiate with China on upgrading the free trade agreement. China has become New Zealand’s largest trading partner and Sino- New Zealand bilateral trade volume in 2017 reached a record high of NZD 26.1 billion. President Xi Jinping during his state visit to New Zealand in 2014 upgraded Sino-New Zealand relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Followed by this During Premier Li Keqiang’s visit to New Zealand in 2017, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen “Belt and Road Initiative”. With constantly expanding Sino-New Zealand cultural exchanges, China becomes New Zealand’s second largest source of tourists and the largest source of overseas students. The two countries have developed profound friendship.
