New Zealand China Council to China

New Zealand China Council Chair John McKinnon will lead a high-level mission of Council members to China and Hong Kong on 8-15 May, the Council’s first visit there since 2019.

Members of the Council delegation are public and private sector leaders representing the tertiary education, media, airport, trade, primary produce, entrepreneurship and banking sectors.  The group includes two members participating in the Council’s ‘Next Generation’ leadership development programme.

The Council will visit Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.  Members will meet New Zealand diplomats, local and New Zealand businesses, Chinese research institutes and commentators, and make site visits to observe China retail and industry in action.

John McKinnon says the main purposes of the mission are to gain a sense of China’s political, economic, social and environmental momentum after following it remotely for three years; and to renew in-person contact with partners in China who hold unique knowledge and insights to help inform the Council’s engagement on the New Zealand-China relationship.

“China is continuing to advance and evolve as dynamically as it always has” says John McKinnon.  “It is hard to get a real sense of these changes without seeing them for ourselves.  Certain themes are to the fore at present in much of the external commentary on China.  We also want to explore angles that may have been hidden from view while both our countries were locked down.”

“New Zealand will be engaging with China for decades to come.  Understanding what makes it tick and where both opportunities and challenges lie for our country should be a goal for all of us to pursue.”

For media enquiries please contact info@nzchinacouncil.org.nz and tel 09 379 4641