Trade and Economy - Since the signing of the China–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in 2008, New Zealand's exports to China have surged from $2.5 billion to $20.85 billion in 2024, with an average annual growth rate of 14.1%, significantly higher than the 7.7% growth rate for New Zealand's exports to the rest of the world [1] - Bilateral goods trade has expanded by nearly $30 billion since the FTA took effect, with the first $10 billion increase taking eight years (2008-2016) and the second $10 billion achieved in just three years (2016-2019). New Zealand has recorded a trade surplus in goods with China for eight consecutive years from 2017 to 2024 [2] - The upgraded protocol of the China–NZ FTA took effect on April 7, 2022, granting New Zealand expanded market access in 22 new service sectors and enhancing access in 17 existing sectors [3] - As of January 1, 2024, all New Zealand dairy products can enter China tariff-free and without quotas, marking the full implementation of the FTA, with over 98% of New Zealand's exports to China enjoying zero-tariff access [4] - In 2024, trade between China and New Zealand reached 38.26 billion New Zealand dollars, with exports to China accounting for 20.6% of New Zealand's total exports and 25% of its total goods exports, supporting over 100,000 jobs [5] - In the first quarter of 2025, total trade between China and New Zealand reached $10.51 billion, with New Zealand's exports to China amounting to $6.29 billion, up 12.5% year-on-year [6] - In April 2025, goods trade totaled $3.41 billion, with New Zealand's exports to China reaching $2.07 billion, up 29.9% year-on-year [8] - New Zealand participated in the China International Import Expo for seven consecutive years, sending its largest-ever delegation in 2024 and signing 24 cooperation agreements expected to generate 340 million New Zealand dollars in trade over the next three years [9] Tourism and People to People Exchanges - China is New Zealand's third-largest source of international visitors, with 248,300 mainland Chinese tourists visiting New Zealand in the year ending March 2025, spending 1.414 billion New Zealand dollars [10] - In June 2024, a unilateral visa waiver policy for New Zealand citizens was announced, leading to 86,200 New Zealanders entering China in the first three quarters of the year [10] - The number of sister-city relationships between China and New Zealand has increased to 42, with the China–New Zealand Mayoral Forum serving as a key platform for local-level exchanges [12] Education - China has been New Zealand's largest source of international students for several years, with 25,175 out of 73,535 international students in New Zealand coming from China, accounting for 34% of the total [13] - High-level academic cooperation in key fields such as food science and environmental protection has been pursued by universities in both countries, exemplified by the establishment of the Peking University New Zealand Center [14] - The China-NZ Tripartite Partnership Programme, launched in 2005, has supported nearly 60 collaborative research and academic exchange projects over its 20-year history [15] Agriculture - China is New Zealand's largest market for food and fibre exports, with New Zealand earning 16.815 billion New Zealand dollars from food and fibre exports to China in the year ending March 2024, accounting for 33% of its total export revenue in this sector [17] Science and Technology - The China–NZ collaborative dive expedition to the Puysegur Trench marked the first scientific exploration of the trench and involved scientists from ten institutions across eight countries [20] - The China–NZ Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Biomedicine and Health has facilitated the transfer of CAR-T immunotherapy to New Zealand for clinical trials, offering new hope for cancer patients [22] - Collaborative research in food quality testing and coastal wetland conservation has provided practical benefits for both countries, with initiatives like the China–NZ Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Kiwifruit promoting New Zealand's kiwifruit in global markets [23]