2017年CRI What to expect from China-New Zealand FTA Upgrading

 

Chinese Premier¹ Li Keqiang's visit to New Zealand marks the 45th year of diplomatic relations between China and New Zealand, and comes three years after the two countries formed a comprehensive strategic partnership³ during a visit to New Zealand by the Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Chinese officials say Premier Li's visit is expected to lead to the upgrading of bilateral⁴ free trade agreement.

CRI's Min Rui has more.

Bilateral trade between China and New Zealand has increased nearly threefold compared with 2008, when the two countries first reached a free trade agreement.

Former Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Chen Mingming has described Premier Li Keqiang's visit to New Zealand as of primary importance to keeping up the trade momentum⁵ on the two sides.

As a diplomat² who was involved in launching of the FTA, he says the agreement has benefited both countries.

"The enactment⁶ of the FTA has shown that it has benefited both China and New Zealand in a number of ways. It's definitely a big plus for the growth of our relations. And I expect that Premier Li Keqiang's visit to New Zealand will further upgrade the FTA between China and New Zealand as it is planned. And this will definitely open up more business opportunities for mutual⁷ export between China and New Zealand."

The first round of negotiations⁸ on upgrading the FTA will be held in the first half of this year. Chen Mingming says the dairy export quota⁹ is likely to be lifted, which could be a boost to the New Zealand economy.

"Upgrading of the FTA will focus on a very important area, namely raising the quotas¹⁰ of New Zealand exports of dairy products to China which means that New Zealand can export more dairy products to China at zero tariff¹¹ rate and that is very important for New Zealand, who's economy is based primarily on exports of dairy products and other agricultural products."

New Zealand dairy products make up about 40 percent of China's imported infant milk dairy market. Whole milk powder, for example, is now imported almost solely¹² from New Zealand.

Besides dairy, prior to Li Keqiang's departure from Beijing, China's Vice¹³ Foreign Minister, Zheng Zeguang, made it clear that the upgrading of the FTA will cover more areas.

"Upgrading the FTA is a new opportunity for the two sides to expand trade and investment so as to enhance the bilateral cooperation. The two sides are also expecting to upgrade their strategic cooperation in such areas as infrastructure¹⁴, agriculture and husbandry, technological¹⁵ innovation, education, culture, tourism and civil aviation."

Zheng also said the upgrading will bring more openness to the markets and reach a consensus¹⁶ on e-commerce.

Besides trade cooperation, people-to-people exchanges and tourism cooperation will also be promoted during Li's visit.

For CRI, I'm Min Rui.

1 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

2 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

3 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

4 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

5 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

6 enactment   

n.演出，担任…角色；制订，通过

参考例句：

• Enactment refers to action.演出指行为的表演。
• We support the call for the enactment of a Bill of Rights.我们支持要求通过《权利法案》的呼声。

7 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

8 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

9 quota   

n.（生产、进出口等的）配额，（移民的）限额

参考例句：

• A restricted import quota was set for meat products.肉类产品设定了进口配额。
• He overfulfilled his production quota for two months running.他一连两个月超额完成生产指标。

10 quotas   

（正式限定的）定量( quota的名词复数 )； 定额； 指标； 摊派

参考例句：

• In fulfilling the production quotas, John made rings round all his fellow workers. 约翰完成生产定额大大超过他的同事们。
• Quotas of the means of production are allocated by the higher administrative bodies to the lower ones. 物资指标按隶属关系分配。

11 tariff   

n.关税，税率；(旅馆、饭店等)价目表，收费表

参考例句：

• There is a very high tariff on jewelry.宝石类的关税率很高。
• The government is going to lower the tariff on importing cars.政府打算降低进口汽车的关税。

12 solely   

adv.仅仅，唯一地

参考例句：

• Success should not be measured solely by educational achievement.成功与否不应只用学业成绩来衡量。
• The town depends almost solely on the tourist trade.这座城市几乎完全靠旅游业维持。

13 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

14 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

15 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

16 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？