Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets the press after the closing of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China,on March 13, 2023. Photo: cnsphoto

Business representatives and experts from New Zealand and Australia are eyeing the upcoming visits by Chinese Premier Li Qiang as a precious opportunity to deepen the potential of bilateral economic and trade ties.

Li will pay official visits to New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia from Thursday to June 20, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lin Jian announced on Tuesday.

China and New Zealand are important cooperation partners. China hopes that through this visit, the two countries will strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, deepen cooperation, cement friendship and promote the sound and steady growth of China-New Zealand relations for more benefits for the two peoples, Lin said.

The two countries are marking the 10th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership.

Looking at the next decade, company representatives from New Zealand are full of hope while describing the visit by the Chinese Premier as a precious opportunity to broaden and deepen cooperation.

"China and New Zealand have a long-standing and important relationship, and there are huge opportunities for bilateral cooperation in primary industries, people-to-people exchanges and tackling climate change," Jack Hu Tao, chairman of Pacific Alpaca Home Textile Group, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

New Zealand's dairy products, alpaca products, meat, wine and other products occupy an important position in the Chinese market, while Chinese agricultural products and processed foods are also gradually entering the New Zealand market, Hu said.

Hu said he hopes one of the outcomes of Li's visit could be visa facilitation and personnel exchange projects for Chinese citizens, which will help deepen the understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

Li's visit is not only an affirmation of the fruitful cooperation in the past 10 years, but also brightens the prospects and expectations for future cooperation, Hu said. 

Hu said his alpaca textile business has gained greatly since he took his company to the China International Import Expo, China's flagship expo for foreign companies, eyeing the potential of the China market.

The experience expanded his company's sales, secured several supply chain partners that boosted the company's output capacity and led to hundreds of jobs in alpaca farming cooperatives in New Zealand, Hu said.

Li's visit is set to lay a solid foundation for the further development of bilateral relations and push China-New Zealand relations to a new level, according to Chinese analysts.

After New Zealand, Li will visit Australia and the trip is also seen in a keen light by Australian business representatives. China and Australia enjoy high economic complementarity and a promising future for cooperation, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin said.

Australian winemaker Penfolds is optimistic about opportunities in the China market, and is aligning closely with Chinese partners, Tom King, Penfolds managing director, told the Global Times recently.

Speaking about the upcoming visit, King said, "It's pleasing to see the stabilizing of relations between the Australian and Chinese governments, including regular high-level visits between the two countries. Visits like this are very welcome and support the strengthening of economic and cultural ties between Australia and China."