Insights | New Zealand business leader: lasting NZ-China friendship nurtures great cooperation opportunities

By Lin Zhuowei

(ECNS)—"I think in the spirit of what the Chinese call 'Guanxi' (or relationality), (maintaining relationships) is about continuing to talk, recognizing that we are close friends. I think that the friendship between New Zealand and China has existed for many years," said Brett Raymond O'Riley, chief executive of New Zealand's Employers & Manufacturers Association (EMA), in an interview with China News Network.

Chinse Premier Li Qiang paid an official visit to New Zealand upon invitation from June 13 to 15, during which he met with representatives of New Zealand's business community. As the chief executive of the largest business association in New Zealand, O'Riley was also present at the meeting.

"We talked about the trade and business opportunities between our two countries, the relationships between New Zealand and China, even about Rewi Alley, (a New Zealand author and social activist known for his contribution to friendship with China)," noted O'Riley, "but what really excited me are some of the opportunities for further collaboration and further development in China."

In the friendship journey that has endured a lot of challenges for over 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 1972, O'Riley noted what's at play in the strong, resilient bilateral relations is mutual adherence to cooperation and dialogue. "Even close friends can have differences about some subjects. What is most important is the overall friendship and the quality of that friendship," he added.

Speaking from his experience of working alongside Chinese governments and businesses, O'Riley told China News Network that successful collaboration abounds in different fields.

"We have over a thousand New Zealand manufacturers who have been really working with China, so I see those opportunities with things like the New Zealand-China industrial parks, and collaboration opportunities that we've developed over a period of time," said the business leader.

To further tap into the industrial potential and deepen bilateral cooperation, O'Riley suggests exploring opportunities in competitive industries on both sides such as new energy, new materials, and agriculture.

O'Riley noted that there was a recognition of the role that China is playing in decarbonizing the world and developing cutting-edge technologies.

"I see through how Chinese technology is helping. It's making a difference in New Zealand already. And New Zealand farmers are seeing that there are opportunities to use electric vehicles on the farm," said O'Riley who himself also owns a Chinese-made electric vehicle.

While acknowledging the leading advantages of Chinese technologies in some areas, O'Riley also proposed a few areas in New Zealand worth noticing for Chinese investors, such as new materials, the dairy industry, and agriculture.

"New Zealand has some very good innovative hardware manufacturing companies, working in the advanced space in developing new materials, and we think that's an opportunity that we can talk to China about."

New Zealand also excels at dairy production and agriculture, which serves as another two areas where cooperation could be enhanced between the two countries. Moreover, O'Riley added that the country is also renowned for abundant, quality sea resources, including crayfish, something sought after by Chinese gourmets.

"We think that all can be done by developing things like the New Zealand-China industrial parks," said O'Riley, "We can provide a concentrated area, which can be a home for New Zealand manufacturers and New Zealand innovative companies to be based and work alongside Chinese partners and Chinese investors. And I think that will help further develop our trade.”

People-to-people exchange presents as another facilitator for bilateral cooperation.

"I think it's incredibly exciting that New Zealanders are going to be able to travel visa-free to China. That will remove some of the barriers for people visiting and can significantly increase tourism," pointed out O'Riley, "I think we recognize that, you know, the more people-to-people contact the two countries have, the greater the opportunities there are together."

O'Riley told China News Network that his son will soon begin his study in China, and he hopes more cooperation opportunities to emerge from people-to-people exchanges between the two sides.