China New Zealand Photo:VCG

New Zealand's Ambassador to China Jonathan Austin told the Global Times that his country has benefited greatly from China's rise, especially in technology, noting that Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) are "something we're very happy to buy."

In an interview on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference, held in Boao, South China's Hainan Province, Austin said that New Zealand was the first developed country to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with China, and it has been a huge benefit for both countries.

"The great thing about the economic relationship between New Zealand and China is that it's very complementary," Austin said, adding that New Zealand exports a lot of high-quality food and beverages to China, and in return, the country imports manufactured goods from China.

"We've benefited greatly from China's rise, especially in technology," the ambassador said, while citing Chinese EVs and smartphones as examples for complementary economic ties. "I've got a Chinese phone in my pocket right now, so it's a very complementary relationship that benefits both countries."

While some Western politicians and media reports often describe Chinese technology as "a threat," Austin said that "from a New Zealand perspective, we're not focused on where it comes from. We're interested in technology that can make life better for everyone."

The remarks came after the 8th meeting of the China-New Zealand FTA joint committee was held in Beijing on Tuesday. Both sides positively evaluated the important role the China-New Zealand FTA has played in deepening trade and investment cooperation and promoting the development of bilateral economic and trade relations, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Thursday.

In the light of the FTA, New Zealand applies zero tariffs to all goods imported from China, while China applies zero tariffs to 97 percent of goods imported from New Zealand. Thanks to this agreement, the bilateral trade had grown from $4.4 billion in 2008 to $20.15 billion in 2024, underscoring the strong economic ties and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two nations, according to official data.

Asked to comment on rising protectionism in some parts of the world, the ambassador said that New Zealand is a small country, and it relies heavily on global trade, which is why it's important for the country to maintain good trading relationships with all its partners.

"We believe that both large and small countries benefit from an international trading system that is open, free, and rules-based. That's our commitment, and we hope everyone will continue to see the benefits of free trade," Austin said.