1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,360 Speaker 1: Just an hour ago, it was announced the Chinese Premier 2 00:00:02,440 --> 00:00:05,200 Speaker 1: Lee Chiang will visit New Zealand this Thursday. It is 3 00:00:05,240 --> 00:00:08,200 Speaker 1: the first visit by the Chinese premier since twenty seventeen 4 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:10,920 Speaker 1: and marks a significant shift from our relationship with China 5 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 1: under the last government. Todd McLay is the Trade Minister. 6 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:16,040 Speaker 2: Hey Todd, Hey Heather, how are you. 7 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:18,160 Speaker 1: I'm very well, thank you. What Chinese business is going 8 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:19,800 Speaker 1: to read this visit as a signal that they can 9 00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 1: have confidence in the relationship between China and New Zealand, Well, yes. 10 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 2: I think they will, as New Zealand business is sure. 11 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 2: It's a very long standing relationship. In fact, it we're 12 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:31,560 Speaker 2: sort of ten years ago this year we signed a 13 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:35,560 Speaker 2: comprehensive strategic partnership around trade with China and we've seen 14 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:38,320 Speaker 2: our trade grow from strength to strength, almost forty billion 15 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 2: dollars in two in both ways now and so it's 16 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:45,159 Speaker 2: a very important economic relationship and I think the Chinese 17 00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:48,199 Speaker 2: Premier coming here underpins the importance of that to the 18 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:52,160 Speaker 2: two economies. What have you guys got planned from Well, 19 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 2: he will be in Wonnington and then other parts of 20 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:58,280 Speaker 2: the country as well. There will be formal meetings with 21 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 2: the Prime Minister and a number of things were working through. 22 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:06,680 Speaker 2: You can normally expect announcements around areas to cooperate all 23 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 2: steps forward. But look, I want to leave that for 24 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:10,840 Speaker 2: the Prime Minister in the premiere to do later in 25 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:11,199 Speaker 2: the week. 26 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:13,960 Speaker 1: Why was there that gap of seven years without a visit. 27 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:17,759 Speaker 2: Well, I think it's probably a range of things. I mean, 28 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:19,680 Speaker 2: I was in opposition for all of that time, so 29 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:21,880 Speaker 2: you know, I didn't have too much input. But I 30 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 2: suppose we also had COVID through the middle of that. 31 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:27,399 Speaker 2: But since the change of government last year, there has 32 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 2: been an increase in contact and engagement. I've been up 33 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 2: to China for meetings with my counterparts across portfolios. In fact, 34 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:37,520 Speaker 2: I've had two meetings with their Commerce minister, who's the 35 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 2: equivalent of trade. The Chinese Foreign Minister has visited here, 36 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 2: was meet with the Prime Minister with Saint Peters and 37 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:46,560 Speaker 2: I and we've just had another minister from China down 38 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 2: as well. So you know, it's clear to say that 39 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 2: there's a lot of engagement going on, and you know, 40 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 2: forty billion dollars with a two way trade, that's very 41 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 2: important for us to keep that relationship open and keep 42 00:01:57,080 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 2: talking to what. 43 00:01:57,800 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 1: Some people are reading it as if the Chinese had 44 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:02,560 Speaker 1: got the hip with the Labor Party, your predecessors. But 45 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 1: I just wonder, I mean, that may have been part 46 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:05,640 Speaker 1: of it, but I wonder if it actually is more 47 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 1: of a reflection of the breakdown in the relationship between 48 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 1: Australia and China. 49 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:14,079 Speaker 2: Well, I think it was certainly clear when Labour first 50 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 2: came to government. It took quite some time for them 51 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 2: to be a visit and then you remember Prime Minister 52 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 2: doing with up there and was only able to go 53 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 2: up for a day. And look, probably that was as 54 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 2: much to do with a new government working out what 55 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 2: to do domestically. But it doesn't matter whether it's China 56 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 2: or the US, or the European Union or India. You know, 57 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 2: small country like New Zeala needs to keep investing in 58 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:37,080 Speaker 2: those relationships. We can't just assume that, you know that 59 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 2: people will buy from us or governments will know where 60 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 2: we are. And so I think that's why, you know, 61 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:44,680 Speaker 2: it's very very important this visit is taking place. I 62 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:46,880 Speaker 2: don't think it is to do with what's happened in Australia. 63 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:51,120 Speaker 2: And you know we've seen the Australian Chinese relationship, particularly 64 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:52,960 Speaker 2: in Trader over the last period of time, you know, 65 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 2: strengthen and get back to an agree of normality. Todd. 66 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 1: Beasts of like enjoy the trip That's Todd McClay, Trade Minister. 67 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 2: For more from Hither Duplasy Allen Drive, listen live to 68 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 2: News Talk Set B from four pm weekdays, or follow 69 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 2: the podcast on iHeartRadio.