Phil Goff makes official visit to China

Labour Leader Phil Goff will tomorrow leave for an official visit to China.

"China is an important trade partner for New Zealand and this will be my first visit since I signed the Free Trade Agreement in 2008 as Trade Minister,” Phil Goff said.

"I am particularly interested in how the FTA is developing and what it means for our exporters.
"Latest trade figures show that China is New Zealand’s second-largest trading partner. New Zealand exports to China to the year ending March totalled $3.9 billion, an increase of more than a billion dollars since the FTA came into effect.”

Phil Goff will visit Shanghai, Wuxi, Beijing and Chongqing during his week-long visit.

"While in Shanghai I will meet with New Zealand companies trading in China such as Fonterra, Beca and Richina and I will also visit the New Zealand pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo.

“I will visit New Zealand businesses operating joint-venture enterprises in Wuxi and Chongqing and meet with key members of New Zealand’s Beachheads Board and Kea group in Beijing.

"I will also have meetings with senior members of the Chinese government in Shanghai and Beijing as well as meeting with leaders in all the cities I visit.

“Among those who I meet will be my former negotiating partner on the free trade agreement Bo Xilai, an up and coming leader within the Communist Party, who is currently Party Secretary in Chongqing.”

Labour MP Raymond Huo will travel with Phil Goff.

ENDS

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