Thanks Michelle，

Distinguished Chairman Martin Thomson，

Distinguished guests，Ladies and gentlemen，

Good afternoon! Kia Ora! 大家下午好！

　　It’s my pleasure to attend today's event. I’d like to thank the New Zealand China Trade Association (NZCTA) for inviting me. I am deeply honored.

    The NZCTA has been committed to practical cooperation between China and New Zealand for more than 40 years, and has made remarkable contributions to our two countries’ economic and trade relations, and our mutual understanding and friendship. Here I`d like to express my sincere gratitude to Chairman Thomson and all the members of  NZCTA.

　　I’m honored to be appointed as the fourth Consul General of China in Christchurch, especially on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of our two countries’ diplomatic ties.

　　I came here only three months ago, but I am deeply impressed and truly grateful for the support from all the friends.

　　Many of you here have been long engaged in China-New Zealand trade and harbour good wish for China-New Zealand economic and trade cooperation. Today I'd like to exchange some views with you on some aspects:

　　First, the fundamentals of China's economy, which is stable and improving in the long run, remain unchanged.

　　Over the past 40 years of Reform and Opening up, China's economy continues to make great progress and create miracles one after another amidst various difficulties, pressures, problems and challenges. China has done its best to mitigate the negative impact of the pandemic on economic and social development. In 2020, China is the only major economy to achieve positive growth; in 2021, China's GDP grows by 8.1% year-on-year; and in 2022, China's GDP is expected to grow around 5.5%. At present, all countries including China are facing serious challenges such as the COVID-19 and rising global inflation. Since May, faced with downward economic pressure, the Chinese government actively expands domestic demand, ensures smooth logistics flow, and promotes supply chain stability to ensure economic growth. We have not only achieved sustained and steady development of our own economy, but also made important contributions to stabilize the global industrial and supply chain. A recent report shows that over 50% of the foreign companies surveyed prioritize China for investment. The American and German Chamber of Commerce in China report this year that 83% of U.S. and 96% of German companies are optimistic about Chinese market, and 66% of U.S. and 71% of German companies plan to increase their investment. In the first three months of this year, China's foreign direct investment (FDI) increased by 25.6% year-on-year, with the total amount and growth rate of foreign capital utilization topping the world.

　　China now has a population of more than 1.4 billion, a large labor force of more than 900 million , a per capita GDP of more than $12,000, a middle-income group of more than 400 million, a total of more than 150 million market players, and imports goods and services worth about $2.5 trillion every year. It’s a market with unlimited potential. As the world's second largest consumer market and the largest trader in goods, , China is a key hub of the global economy, with complete industrial system, excellent logistics infrastructure, and abundant human resources. Over the past decade, 600,000 PhDs and 6.5 million masters have graduated from Chinese universities. China is playing a key role in world economy.  China's contribution to world economic growth has remained at around 30% over the years. We believe China will be the main driving force to the post-pandemic recovery of the world economy, as well.

　　Secondly, China's opening up policy will not change.

　　The year 1978 witnessed the beginning of China's reform and opening-up policy. After more than 40 years, China has become the world's second largest economy and the largest trade partner of more than 130 countries and regions. In 2013 China proposed the "Belt and Road" initiative, and in the past 8 years signed more than 200 documents with 149 countries and 32 international organizations, including New Zealand in this regard. China and our partners under the “Belt and Road” has jointly carried out more than 2,000 projects, providing more than 300,000 local jobs and add strong momentum to their economies. The New Zealand China council once proposed the idea of "Southern Link" in their report concerning the "Belt and Road", aiming to make New Zealand a transit hub between China and South America. We look forward to working together to promote the idea actively, so as to turn it into reality as soon as possible and better utilize the "gateway" advantage of New Zealand, especially the South Island.

　　Opening-up is China's fundamental policy. No matter how the world changes, China's determination to reform and opening up will not waver. Just now, Ms. Lisa Li from the New Zealand China Chamber of Commerce briefed us on the 5th China International Import Expo (CIIE). As she said, the CIIE is a landmark event, which demonstrates China's firm position to expand its high-level opening to the outside world. China is willing to make economic globalization more open, inclusive, mutual beneficial, and win-win. We will share development opportunities with the world in this process. 

　　Thirdly, China's determination to promote the healthy and stable development of the China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership will not change.

　　The 50th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and New Zealand is an important milestone. Over the past 50 years, China-New Zealand relations have weathered international changes and become a successful example of win-win cooperation between countries with different social systems, histories, cultures, and development stages. China and New Zealand share a wide range of common interests and have broad prospects for cooperation in areas such as global climate change, low-carbon green economy and economic recovery from the pandemic. As Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi pointed out during the online meeting with New Zealand Foreign Minister Mahuta last week, China-New Zealand relations have become increasingly mature and resilient. Both sides should take stock of the successful experience over the past 50 years, enhance mutual trust, focus on mutually beneficial cooperation, and usher in the next 50 years of bilateral relations featuring greater maturity, stability, mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

　　Cooperation between our two countries has reaped fruitful outcomes especially in economic and trade area. The signing of the FTA in 2008 has boosted bilateral trade in goods from $9 billion to $35.5 billion by 2021. This hard-won result is achieved through the relentless efforts of both sides, including everyone here. Currently, China is New Zealand's largest trading partner, export market and source of trade surplus. Our economies are complementary. New Zealand products can meet China’s growing demand for high-quality products, while the Chinese market makes a positive contribution to New Zealand's economic development.

　　Nowadays, China accounts for about 30% of New Zealand's foreign exports of goods and services. In 2021, China accounts for 42% of total exports of New Zealand’s dairy products, 42% of total exports of meat and 65% of total exports of wood products.  As we can see, the Chinese market is so important to New Zealand exporters.

　　This April, the Upgrade Protocol of China-New Zealand FTA came into force, giving new momentum to deepen our bilateral practical cooperation. We believe that through the joint efforts of both sides, China-New Zealand economic and trade cooperation will definitely achieve greater development. 

　　Fourthly, China's pandemic prevention and control policies are effective.

　　Now the Chinese government is firmly committed to a “dynamic zero-covid” policy that always puts peoples’ lives first. This policy does not aim to achieve "zero infection", but to control the pandemic in the shortest possible time and at the lowest social cost.

   You may wonder why China doesn`t adopt the policy of “ living with the virus”.  The short answer is that China is in a different situation. China has a population of 1.4 billion, of which 260 million are over 60 years old and 250 million are below 14 years old, adding up to a vulnerable group of more than 500 million. In contrast, China's health care resources are still limited.  According to Nature Medicine, if China abandons the "dynamic zero-Covid" policy, it could add 112 million confirmed cases between May and July this year and cause more than 1.5 million deaths.This is unacceptable.

　　We cannot deny that some people’s daily lives have been affected by some pandemic prevention measures. In response, Chinese local governments are continuously improving their measures. With the joint efforts of the Chinese people, the current wave of pandemic is under control in both Shanghai and Beijing.

　　I think, many of you are keen to know when China will open its borders like New Zealand, when you can go to China for business, and when Chinese tourists, students and businessmen will come back. Here, I have two good news to share with you: First, China has eased restrictions on the issuance of entry visas. The Chinese embassies and consulates abroad including our consulate general, have started to accept visa applications to China, such as those for business, study, work and family visits. Second, many places in China, including Beijing, have shortened their entry quarantine period.

　　Lastly, I’d like to share some suggestions on the economic and trade cooperation between the South Island and China.

　　Although I live here for only three months, the South Island has left me a very good impression. Above all, China-New Zealand friendship is deeply rooted in people’s hearts. Now, the South Island  has 16 pairs of sister city relations with various parts of China. Not long ago, I accompanied Ambassador Wang Xiaolong to visit Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown, and I myself visited some places in the South Island. I’m pleased to see that all places have made cooperation with China a priority. We met people from the South Island's dairy industry, meat processing sectors, and people working in construction, education and tourism, all of whom are participants, contributors and beneficiaries of our bilateral practical cooperation. The passion and commitment of the South Island community to China-New Zealand friendship and cooperation has made me deeply aware that this relationship has brought tangible benefits to both people, thus filled me with a sense of responsibility for my work as the Consul General.

　　I know many of you may come from different industries, but all of you are important witnesses and participants in the China-New Zealand practical cooperation. Here I`d like to share some suggestions for your reference.

　　First, I want to invite you to participate in this year's CIIE. As Lisa Li just introduced, participating in the CIIE helps build awareness of New Zealand companies and brands in China. New Zealand's national brand as a clean, green, open, friendly country and its high-quality products are very popular in Chinese market. We welcome South Island entrepreneurs to actively participate in this year's expo to showcase your products, understand potential needs and explore new opportunities. We wish you all a fruitful and productive result.

　　Second, I want to introduce China's booming cross-border e-commerce. In 2021, the number of online shopping users reaches 842 million in China. Covid-19 has accelerated the transformation of international trade to digital forms. China now has set up 132  e-commerce pilot zones across the country. On June 13, the Shenzhen city in Guangdong province co-hosted the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao-Greater Bay Area-New Zealand Cross-border E-Commerce Expo . Representatives from New Zealand government, business associations, import and export enterprises participated in the event both offline and online. In my opinion, small and micro enterprises in the South Island can also make full use of e-commerce platform.

　　Third, we can use comparative advantages to expand cooperation in primary products and others. The demand of Chinese people has changed a lot in recent years. With the middle income population reaching 400 million, demand has shifted from the low end to the middle and high end. Chinese families are seeking higher quality products, as well as higher quality education and more frequent overseas travel, which New Zealand has advantages. On the other hand, “Made in China” products like home appliances are both inexpensive and of good quality. They are welcomed by the Kiwis as well. We can have more complementary collaborations in these aspects.

    Fourth, we should expand cooperation fields and enrich cooperation contents. China is speeding up to foster a new development paradigm with domestic circulation as the mainstay and domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other. We will adopt a higher degree of opening up policy and we welcome foreign investment of higher levels. In the past, economic and trade cooperation between the South Island and China focused in the export of primary products. In future, we can explore and open up new areas of cooperation, such as  agricultural science and technology, green development, medicine and health, e-commerce, tourism, education, winter sports and so on.

　　Fifth, to promote people-to-people exchanges and connection, a favorable public opinion environment is needed. As I said earlier, all sectors across the South Island have an open and friendly attitude toward China, but sometimes we can see some reports not so objective. I hope everyone here can use what you saw and heard to tell the real story of the friendly relations between our two countries, and visit China more often after the pandemic.

　　South Island has a well-established Chinese community that has become part of New Zealand's diverse society. There are a number of Chinese students at universities and polytechnics across the South Island. They love New Zealand and China and understand both countries. They are valuable resource for South Island companies to tap into the Chinese market . There were more than 10,000 Kiwi children learning Chinese in nearly 100 schools in the South Island before the pandemic. Hopefully, with the return of Chinese volunteer teachers, these children's Chinese classes will resume as soon as possible. Besides, the sister-city relations can provide platforms to carry out some exchange programs.

　　Ladys and gentlemen, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and New Zealand. The Chinese Consulate General in Christchurch will hold a series of events, and we look forward to your active participation. Let’s join hands to make the next 50 years of China-New zealand cooperation even more successful.

   Thank you ! 谢谢!